HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2019-4615

HR 4615

ByRepresentative Maycumber

WHEREAS, Gary Baskett is a Washington state native who committed his life to serving others as a coach and as a teacher; and

WHEREAS, Gary was a star athlete at West Seattle High School, Wenatchee Valley Community College, and Central Washington University; and

WHEREAS, Gary started his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Central Washington University and then coached football and track at Ilwaco High School, West Seattle High School, Lincoln High School (Seattle), Federal Way High School, and Wenatchee Valley College before ending up at Mead High School in Spokane; and

WHEREAS, Coach Baskett was the head boys track coach at Mead High School for twenty years and took a well-established and successful program to new heights by setting an example that raised many other programs to great heights along the way; and

WHEREAS, Coach Baskett turned around several athletic programs throughout his career, and while at Mead High School he built what was already a successful team into one of the most dominant track and field teams in Washington State history by winning five state championships, placing second four times and third twice in the 3A and 4A classification; and

WHEREAS, Baskett's teams produced 43 individual state champions and 27 High School All-Americans; and

WHEREAS, Coach Baskett led Mead High School's track team through a 17-year period where Mead won over 155 straight dual meets in the Greater Spokane League, which continues to be one of the longest unbeaten streaks in state history and helped raise the bar for track and field to a point where the Greater Spokane League is one of the most competitive dual meet leagues in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Coach Baskett was twice named Coach of the Year in the Greater Spokane League and was also recognized as a Washington State Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Gary Baskett was inducted into the Washington State Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Gary Baskett continues to contribute to the sport of track and field in many ways, including as an assistant coach at the Community Colleges of Spokane, at Mt. Spokane High School, and at Whitman College, and by speaking at various coaching clinics around the state, serving as a cultural exchange coach for Washington State; and

WHEREAS, Gary Baskett made athletics an important part of his life and the lives of many that he encountered, and also taught art for 43 years touching the hearts and minds of thousands of students; and

WHEREAS, Gary Baskett's most important achievements can be seen by the countless numbers of his athletes and students who responded to his "Attitude Makes the Difference" philosophy and taking that philosophy into their careers as successful lawyers, judges, physicians, entrepreneurs, elected officials, athletes at the college and professional level, and coaches at high school and college levels, all working hard to make Washington state a better place; and

WHEREAS, Gary Baskett showed unwavering love and devotion to his family, to his students, to his athletes, and to the State of Washington;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, on behalf of the people of the State of Washington, recognize and honor the life and work of Gary Baskett; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call on the people of the State of Washington to join us in reflecting on Mr. Baskett's life and achievements, and to be inspired by his dedication to the youth of this state and his dedication to his work, family, community, and state.