PRINTER'S NO. 483

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

84

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY BOYLE, MURT, BISHOP, McNEILL, KIRKLAND, VEREB,

HENNESSEY, D. COSTA, C. PARKER, COHEN, GINGRICH, HELM, KORTZ,

READSHAW, KIM, ROZZI, DRISCOLL, MACKENZIE, DiGIROLAMO,

Washington High School football team located in Northeast

Philadelphia, who is retiring after a distinguished career of

coaching and teaching.

WHEREAS, On February 17, 2015, Coach Ron Cohen is retiring as

head coach of the George Washington High School football team

after a remarkable coaching career spanning 30 years during

which his teams were dominant in the City of Philadelphia's

Public League; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of 30 seasons as head coach, Coach

Cohen compiled an impressive overall record of 261 wins, 84

University Owls; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, Coach Cohen earned a degree in health and

physical education from Temple University; and

WHEREAS, In 1985, Coach Cohen became head coach of the George

Washington High School football team after having served as an

assistant coach at Simon Gratz High School, Roxborough High

School and Lincoln High School; and

WHEREAS, In Coach Cohen's first season as head coach for the

George Washington High School Eagles, his football team earned a

berth in the Public League Championship Game; and

WHEREAS, Coach Cohen is the first coach in the history of

George Washington High School's football program to win 10

consecutive games; and

WHEREAS, Coach Cohen has been named "Coach of the Year" on

nine different occasions; and

WHEREAS, Coach Cohen holds the City of Philadelphia record

for most high school football playoff wins, with 55; and

WHEREAS, Coach Cohen has coached seven football players who

were named to play in the annual Big 33 Football Classic all-

star game, including four players who have gone on to play in

Star Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Coach Cohen created the concept of building four

athletic Supersites, artificial turf fields and all-weather

tracks that can be utilized by all student athletes in the City

of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, From 2004 through 2005, Coach Cohen served on the

District 12 steering committee that paved the way for the Public

League's entrance into the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic

Association and the development of the four Supersites; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Coach Cohen was

considerable, he counts as his greatest achievement and

privilege the positive influence he has had on his students in

his capacity as a coach and teacher for more than 48 years; and

WHEREAS, Despite the challenges inherent in growing up in an

inner-city environment, some of Coach Cohen's students have

earned college degrees and, with numerous others, have become

responsible adults leading positive lives; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor

distinguished coach and teacher Ron Cohen for his outstanding

leadership as head coach of the George Washington High School