By Dee Longfellow For The Elmhurst Independent
There was scarcely a dry eye in the house on Sunday, Jan. 28, when the Elmhurst community turned out at York High School to take part in a Memorial Ceremony for Coach Joe Newton, who passed away in December. There were a few laughs, too.
Newton, founder of “The Long Green Line,” enjoyed a long career at York that included 61 years of teaching and coaching, 29 state titles, 20 national titles and a chance to serve as a track coach at the U. S. Olympics in Los Angeles.
Clearly the man was more than a coach.
Following a flag-folding ceremony and an introduction by District 205 School Board President Shannon Ebner, Stan Reddel took the podium, boasting that he had been the longest-serving assistant to the great Coach Newton.
“He had a profound positive influence on the lives of others,” he said. “We was not just a leader of kids but a leader of men.”
Reddel told a comical story of his first day reporting to work as a pole vault / high jump coach for York.
“When I walked up to Newton, he took both of my hands in his and looked me in the eye and said, ‘I just know the good Lord sent you to us,’” Reddel said. “Later when my wife asked me how it went, I said, ‘I think I’m on a mission from God.’”
He shared how Newton vowed to be there for the athletes as long as they trained.
“Once, one kid on the team was interested in being a Navy SEAL so he wanted to leave practice early to meet with some Navy SEALS, who would be giving a presentation that day,” Reddel said. “The coach said he would have to come in and train early, so the boy came in about 6 a.m. in order to leave by 9 a.m. Coach Newton was there at 6 a.m. right with him. That’s just the way he was.”
Other speakers were Goerge Andrews, a former manager, now sports agent; Hon. Judge Ken Popejoy, who was the state champion in cross country in 1968 and in the one-mile in 1969; Al Janulis, retired teacher, coach, athletic director and state champion quarter-miler; and, Hon. Pete DiCianni, who ran for Newton from 1980-83 and was on the team that won four consecutive state titles.
While DiCianni spoke of his own accomplishments such as serving as Mayor of Elmhurst, serving on the DuPage County Board and his efforts to pass his daughter’s namesake legislation to assure insurance coverage for children with autism, he knew all of his efforts and successes were due to his affiliation with Coach Joe Newton.
“Newton had a soft spot for kids with disabilities,” DiCianni said. “When people asked me what inspired to me to keep going, how did I hang in there [when things got tough], my answer was three-fold: great parents, a family of faith, and Coach Joe Newton.”
Finally, Coach Newton’s own son Tom Newton took the stage to share final thoughts with the capacity crowd.
“We’re all blessed, all of us, for having known him,” he said. “I realize that a father’s son is privileged to things others were not.”
Finally it was announced that Nike has donated $2500 to fund a Joe Newton scholarship that will allow a York runner to go to college, who otherwise may not be able to.
End of an era… life of a legacy… farewell, Coach Joe Newton (1927-2017).
