Memorial service set for York's Joe Newton

Legendary York High School cross country coach Joe Newton will be remembered during a memorial celebration on Jan. 27 at the Elmhurst school.

Newton, 88, died this month in Arizona. He was 87 when he retired at the end of the 2016 season after 60 years of coaching.

The time for the memorial still must be finalized.

Newton arrived at York as a teacher in 1956 and took over the cross country and track programs in 1960. During his tenure the Dukes won 29 state titles - 28 in cross country and another in track and field.

York held a celebration of Newton's coaching career in November 2016.

"Mr. Newton took advantage of the opportunity to teach young men lessons that will sustain them for the rest of their lives," boys cross country head coach Charlie Kern said at that celebration. "A winning culture was built, not from trophies, but from a foundation of values that ensures success for life.

"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."