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2008 SESSION

089327712
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 565
Offered March 3, 2008
Commending Paul Hatcher.
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Patrons—Saxman and Landes; Senator: Hanger
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WHEREAS, Paul Hatcher, the boys' basketball coach at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton since 1968, was inducted into the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2007; on February 19, 2008, he coached his 1,000th game; and

WHEREAS, with an 85-game winning streak, 839 career victories, and four state championships to his credit, Coach Paul Hatcher remains the winningest basketball coach in Virginia High School League (VHSL) history, having won that distinction in 1998; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Bridgewater College, Paul Hatcher was a four-year starter and team captain on the Bridgewater basketball team and a four-year starter on the golf team; and

WHEREAS, two years after graduating from Bridgewater, Paul Hatcher was hired to coach the Fighting Leemen despite having no varsity coaching experience, and the Robert E. Lee High School's boys' basketball team has been a perennial powerhouse under his leadership; and

WHEREAS, a legend among VHSL coaches, Coach Hatcher has been honored repeatedly as Coach of the Year at the district, region, and state levels; and

WHEREAS, in 1995 Coach Paul Hatcher was inducted into the VHSL Hall of Fame, and in 1990 Robert E. Lee High School's gymnasium was renamed the Paul Hatcher Gymnasium; and

WHEREAS, Coach Hatcher has been honored with the Outstanding Citizen and Community Service award from the Staunton City Council and recognized a number of times by the City of Staunton for his outstanding work with young people in the community; and

WHEREAS, Coach Hatcher continues to mentor and inspire his young players at Robert E. Lee High School to attain levels of excellence unsurpassed by any other high school basketball program in Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Coach Paul Hatcher on his induction into the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and his VHSL record of coaching 1,000 games; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Coach Paul Hatcher as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and best wishes for continued success.