093_SR0121

 
                                     LRB093 11548 HSS 14900 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois  were  saddened  to  learn of the death of Edward W.
 4    McCaskey of Des Plaines, Chairman  Emeritus  of  the  Chicago
 5    Bears  Football Club Board of Directors, on Tuesday, April 8,
 6    2003; and

 7        WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey was  born  on  April  27,  1919  in
 8    Philadelphia  to  the  late Richard and Catheryn McCaskey; he
 9    attended the University of Pennsylvania; he married  Virginia
10    Halas on February 2, 1943; and

11        WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey valiantly served his country during
12    World  War  II  in  the  United  States Army 80th Infantry in
13    France; he entered the war as a  private  and  was  honorably
14    discharged  with the rank of captain; he earned a Bronze Star
15    and Combat Infantry Badge for his performance in combat; and

16        WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. McCaskey moved to the Chicago  area
17    in 1949 where Mr. McCaskey became a top salesman for the E.F.
18    MacDonald  Corporation;  in  1967, he became a vice president
19    with the Chicago Bears football organization and in 1983,  he
20    became  the  Chairman  of  the Board; in February of 1999, he
21    became Chairman Emeritus of the Board; he was  known  as  the
22    conscience of the NFL; and

23        WHEREAS,  Prior  to becoming vice president, Mr. McCaskey
24    became a very good friend of Brian Piccolo, a  Bears  running
25    back;  Mr.  Piccolo tragically died of cancer in 1970 and Mr.
26    McCaskey wrote the famous speech for  Gale  Sayers  that  was
27    immortalized  in  the  TV  movie  "Brian's  Song";  he was an
28    instrumental part of the Brian Piccolo Cancer  Research  Fund
29    and  the  Piccolo  Golf Committee, both of which have donated
30    millions over the years to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer  Center
31    in  New  York;  he was also a support to the family of Walter
32    Payton during Mr. Payton's battle with liver disease; and
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11548 HSS 14900 r
 1        WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey and his wife believed  very  firmly
 2    in  the  support  of charitable causes and were involved with
 3    the Sisters  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Holy  Family  of
 4    Nazareth;  Mr. McCaskey led the development of the Bears Care
 5    program in which the Bears team partnered with the Robert  R.
 6    McCormick  Tribune Foundation to support programs designed to
 7    positively impact people in the areas of education, youth and
 8    families, athletics,  entrepreneurship,  and  health  with  a
 9    particular emphasis on programs aimed at disadvantaged youth;
10    the  fund  also  considers  programs  devoted  to  physically
11    challenged  individuals  and  programs  that promote healthy,
12    drug-free lifestyles; and

13        WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey enjoyed singing;  at  one  time  he
14    aspired  to be a professional singer, and he continued making
15    CDs past his 80th birthday; he was an avid horse racing  fan;
16    he   is  remembered  as  a  mentor,  a  good-hearted  man,  a
17    storyteller, an upbeat person, and a family man; and

18        WHEREAS, The passing  of  Edward  W.  McCaskey  has  been
19    deeply  felt  by  many,  especially  his  wife, Virginia; his
20    children,  Michael  (Nancy),  Tim  (Dawn),   Ellen   (Barney)
21    Tonquest,  Patrick (Gretchen), Mary, Edward Jr. (Kathy), Anne
22    (Mike) Catron, George (Barbara),  Richard,  Brian  (Barbara),
23    and    Joseph    McCaskey;   his   many   grandchildren   and
24    great-grandchildren; and his sister and brother, Kay  Adelman
25    and  James  (Maggie)  McCaskey;  his siblings Thomas (Betty),
26    Julie Wolff, and Richard McCaskey,  preceded  him  in  death;
27    therefore, be it

28        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
29    ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that  together  with  his
30    friends,  family, and all the fans and members of the Chicago
31    Bears Football Club,  we  mourn  the  passing  of  Edward  W.
32    McCaskey, and we extend to his friends and family our deepest
33    sympathy; and be it further
 
                            -3-      LRB093 11548 HSS 14900 r
 1        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
 2    presented  to  the  family  of  Edward  W.  McCaskey  as   an
 3    expression  of  our  sincere condolences during their time of
 4    loss.