State of South Dakota  
EIGHTY-SEVENTH SESSION
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2012  

771T0831   SENATE COMMEMORATION   NO.  26  

Introduced by:    Senators Vehle, Gray, Hansen (Tom), Holien, Hunhoff (Jean), Krebs, Novstrup (Al), and Tidemann and Representatives Carson, Abdallah, Dennert, Elliott, Feickert, Gibson, Hawley, Hunhoff (Bernie), Hunt, Magstadt, Moser, Munsterman, Novstrup (David), Perry, Rozum, Solum, Venner, and White
 

        A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Honoring Coach Gary Munsen for his many successes as the Mitchell Kernels High School basketball coach.

    WHEREAS, Coach Gary Munsen has been the head coach of the Mitchell Kernels Boys' Basketball Team for thirty-nine years with an overall coaching record of 648 wins and 251 losses before district playoffs in the 2011-2012 season. Coach Munsen has been head coach of the Mitchell Kernels Girls' Basketball Team for thirteen years with a record of 229 wins and 71 losses; and

    WHEREAS, Coach Munsen's commitment to coaching is illustrated best in the impressive achievements realized by his teams. Munsen coached nine boys' state championship titles out of thirty-three state tournament appearances while coaching at Mitchell. His teams hold the record for five consecutive ESD Titles, an all-time state record for forty straight wins for state classes "A" and "AA," and the state record for consecutive state tournament appearances with twenty (1983-2002). During Munsen's time as coach, he has coached seventy-eight all-tournament players and seventy-three all-state players; and

    WHEREAS, Coach Munsen's example of an extraordinary coach and person will be present long after his retirement this year, and the lessons he has taught through the game of basketball will live on forever:

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Eighty-seventh Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that the Legislature commends and honors Coach Gary Munsen for his contributions to his community and state and the commitment and inspiration he has given to the students, athletes, staff, and people around him.