WHEREAS, Sid Otton has dedicated 39 years to the student athletes
of Washington, the last 32 with the Tumwater High School Thunderbirds
Football team; and
WHEREAS, Sid Otton has been head football coach at Tumwater High
School since 1974; and
WHEREAS, Sid Otton, through tireless effort and determination, has
led Tumwater High School to the state playoffs 18 times, capturing 4
state championships; and
WHEREAS, On September 9, 2005, Sid Otton broke the state record of
272 career wins for a high school football coach; and
WHEREAS, Sid Otton finished the fall 2005 season with 278 career
victories and another Tumwater High School trip to the playoffs; and
WHEREAS, Sid Otton's excellence has earned him several awards,
including induction into the Washington State Football Coaches Hall of
Fame in 1996, the Weber State University Hall of Fame in 1993, and
being named "Best Local Coach" by The Olympian in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Sid Otton has provided outstanding guidance to his
players, imparting the ideals of teamwork, perseverance, and humility;
and
WHEREAS, 8 of Sid Otton's former players have gone on to play major
college football; and
WHEREAS, 4 of Sid Otton's assistant coaches, Karst Brandsma of
Peninsula High School, Dave Tobin of Hoquiam High School, Bill Beattie
of Olympia High School, and Matt Hinkle of Shelton High School, have
gone on to become successful head coaches; and
WHEREAS, Sid Otton and his wife, Marjean, have been married 40
years and have 3 children and 7 grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Sid Otton's son, Tim, serves as volunteer assistant
football coach at Tumwater High School; Sid's daughter, Tana, serves as
head volleyball coach at Tumwater High School; and son, Brad, served as
quarterbacks coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and
WHEREAS, Marjean Otton says "Sid is a very unselfish man who will
not feel at all comfortable taking the honors without giving credit to
all the assistant coaches he has had throughout the years. He's a
pretty humble guy who just loves what he does being a football coach.
I am very proud of him for who he is and all he has accomplished. He
is a student of the game, always going to clinics and learning more.
But I have to say, above all, his greatest accomplishments are that of
being the best husband, father, and grandfather. He is a tremendous
example to us all";
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
offer its congratulations, gratitude, and commendation to Sid Otton for
his outstanding years of service to the student athletes of the
community and to the students and families of Tumwater; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives to Sid Otton and his family, and Tumwater High School.