George W. Latham

George Winfield Latham, of Waukegan, IL, passed away at his home on August 19, 2015, five days shy of his 102nd birthday. George was born on August 24, 1913, in the southern Illinois town of Galatia. He married the late Josephine “Jo” Latham (nee Pruett) on June 7, 1940, in Staunton, IL; they were married for nearly 71 years. He is survived by two children, George “Tony” (Lennis Mary) Latham of Lake Bluff; and Susan Filippo of West Chicago; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one nephew, and four nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Finis M. Latham and Maud B. Latham (nee Bennett); two brothers, Walter Latham and Otis Latham; one sister, Helen Jones (nee Latham); and his beloved wife, Jo.

When George was four, the Lathams moved to Montana and homesteaded; he rode a horse to school and developed a love of animals and the outdoors. He became a multi-sport athlete at Livingston, Montana, High School. He graduated from Illinois State University where he also played varsity football and junior varsity basketball. He received his Masters in Education from the University of Illinois and completed post graduate work in administration from Northern Illinois University.

As a basketball coach, Latham compiled a 383-180 record during his 20 year career at four Illinois high schools, including a 250-80 record while coaching Quincy High School from 1945-56. He was the winningest coach in school history when he left Quincy High School in 1956. He took eight Quincy High School teams to the state finals (1946, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956). His Blue Devils placed 3rd in State in 1951 and 2nd in 1952, losing in overtime to Hebron. He moved to Waukegan in 1956 where he subsequently served as a division chairman, principal of Waukegan East High School, assistant superintendent, and interim superintendent of Waukegan Public School District 60 until he retired in 1980.

Latham served as President of the Illinois High School Coaches Association, was awarded the Illinois State University Alumni Award in 1952, was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1957, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Quincy High School Hall of Fame in 1985. He served as a member of the Chicago Daily News All State Basketball Board from 1945 to 1956. George was an active member of the Suburban League Principals’ Association and very involved with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He also served as President of the Lake County Retired Teachers Association.

Visitation will be held at Marsh Funeral Home, 305 N. Cemetery Rd, Gurnee, IL on Thursday, August 27, 2015, beginning at 10am with the funeral service immediately following at noon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Waukegan Public Schools Foundation George Latham Scholarship Fund.