[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 32281]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING COACH GARY KORHONEN OF RICHARDS HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIS RECORD-
                     BREAKING 301ST WIN IN ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 5, 2007

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Coach Gary 
Korhonen of the Richards High School football team in Oak Lawn, 
Illinois, for his achievement as the all time winningest prep school 
coach in the state of Illinois. Breaking the record on September 28th, 
2007, with his 301st win, Coach Korhonen has demonstrated a great 
commitment to his student-athletes. I am pleased to rise today to 
recognize Coach Korhonen's unyielding dedication and honor this great 
milestone in his career.
  Considered to be one of the best coaches in Illinois football 
history, Coach Korhonen's legacy reached a new level this fall when his 
Richards squad faced Evergreen Park High School. Their 44-0 victory 
gave Korhonen his record-breaking 301st win as an Illinois head 
football coach and propelled the Richards Bulldogs into their 23rd 
consecutive playoff berth. With this win, Coach Korhonen broke the 
record of 300 wins previously set by Providence Catholic Coach Matt 
Senffner.
  Demonstrating a high commitment to the success of the individual 
members of his team, Coach Korhonen's understanding of what truly 
defines success doesn't include the number of games he's won as a 
coach. Korhonen considers his greatest accomplishment in life to be the 
fact that he has sent 274 kids to college on scholarships. Always 
believing in the potential of his team, Korhonen humbly puts the kids 
first, saying, ``It's not about me, but about everyone else I'm working 
with.''
  Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Coach Gary Korhonen for the positive 
role model that he is to the young men of Richards High School and for 
his continuing commitment to excellence for his players, both on and 
off the field. As the Representative of the 3rd District of Illinois, I 
am proud to say that we are home to the state's winningest coach, and I 
wish him and his team great success in the coming seasons.

                          ____________________