York HS Plans Memorial For Cross Country Coach

ELMHURST, IL — A memorial celebration is planned to honor former York Boys Cross Country coach Joe Newton on Saturday, Jan. 27, at York Community High School, 355 W. St. Charles Road, in Elmhurst. According to the district, Newton died Dec. 9 in Arizona. Newton was 87 when he retired at the conclusion of the 2016 cross country season following 60 years of coaching. A celebration of his coaching career was held at York High School on Nov. 6, 2016.

"I am fortunate to say that I have worked directly with Mr. Newton and have been doing so since 1993. The lessons that he taught his athletes were also learned or relearned as his assistant," Boys Cross Country head coach Charlie Kern said in a release. "Mr. Newton took advantage of the opportunity to teach young men lessons that will sustain them for the rest of their lives. A winning culture was built, not from trophies, but from a foundation of values that insures success for life!"

Kern added the 'Newtonisms' and references continue to rattle around in the heads of his athletes from 1956 to 2016 and guide the lives of young and old men.

"In this way, Mr. Newton has become larger than life, he lives on in his students and athletes and thus becomes immortal," Kern said in a release.

"This is definitely a sad time for the York Community to lose one of our own. My thoughts go out to Joe's family," York Assistant Principal for Athletics, Rob Wagner said in a release. "We have to understand that this is a difficult time for them. Joe Newton was York High School. What he did for our community and generations of students is unfathomable. His success in coaching, 28 state titles, 44 total state trophies, WSC Conference Championships are all worth mentioning..but his greatest asset was his ability to bring people together. You never forget Joe Newton...after meeting Joe Newton. He touched the lives of generations of students. He will remain in our hearts forever!"

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