Resolution 071009

..Title Recognizing and Congratulating Ron Cohen for more than Forty Years of Service to the School District of Philadelphia as a School Teacher and Football Coach including more than Twenty Distinguished Years as Head Coach of the George Washington High School Football Team. ..Body WHEREAS, Ron Cohen began his career with the Philadelphia School District more than forty years ago; and WHEREAS, In 1985 he was named head coach for the George Washington High School Football Team, the Eagles; and WHEREAS, Under Coach Cohen the George Washington High School Eagles won the Public League Championship a record eight times, making Ron the winningest coach in league history; and WHEREAS, On September 28, 2007, Coach Cohen celebrated his 200th victory by defeating Germantown High, his alma mater, making him second among all city-league coaches for career victories; and WHEREAS, He is the first coach to represent District 12 in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Association Playoffs in 2004; and WHEREAS, Ron's passion for football is matched only by his passion for the educational and personal achievements of his player; and WHEREAS, Coach Cohen has said, "The best part about coaching is graduation day"; and WHEREAS, Over the years, former players have returned to George Washington High School--sometimes as many as 35 players from all different years--to watch the annual Thanksgiving Game and to talk with current players about the importance of education; and WHEREAS, He has been more than a coach--he has also been an important role model and teacher. In his words, "It's not about winning and losing. It's about molding young men"; and WHEREAS, Coach Cohen has been gracious in his accomplishments and credits his coaches and players with much of his success saying, "First of all, no coach can win without talent. And the head coach is only as good as the assistant coaches"; and WHEREAS, Coach Cohen and his wife of thirty-four years, Mimi, are dedicated parents of two daughters Jamie, 30 and Elyssa, 25; and WHEREAS, Ron is a committed family man, who humbly states that, "I try to bring the closeness of my family to the football team. My mother (Ethel) came to a lot of games- she still comes to all the games. And he credits his father saying, "I got my work ethic from my father (Herman). He was always working, but he still gave me a lot of love and a lot of support"; and WHEREAS, Coach Cohen is an inspiration to all of us who are working to improve the quality of education in City schools and working to prepare students for life as responsible adults; now therefore RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA Hereby Recognizes and Congratulates Ron Cohen for more than Forty Years of Service to the School District of Philadelphia as a School Teacher and Coach including more than Twenty Distinguished Years as Head Coach of the George Washington High School Football Team; and FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Ron Cohen as an Expression of this Council's Deep Appreciation and Admiration for his Committed Service to the School District of Philadelphia and its Students. ..End