HR0709 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0709 LRB094 15007 LCT 50122 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf, who was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 25, 1936; he moved with his family to Chicago, Illinois in 1957; Mr. Reinsdorf then went on to graduate from George Washington University in Washington D.C., earn a law degree from Northwestern University, as well as a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Illinois College; Mr. Reinsdorf is married to his wife, Martyl, and has four children and seven grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his sports interests, Mr. Reinsdorf is an attorney, a certified public accountant, a specialist in real estate securities, a registered mortgage underwriter, and a certified review appraiser; in December 1987, Mr. Reinsdorf completed employment as chairman of the board of a real estate investment firm he co-founded in the early 1970s and sold to American Express; currently, he is a partner in Bojer Financial, Ltd., a land investment company; he is a former member of the board of directors of Shearson Lehman Brothers, Inc., the Northwestern University Law School Alumni Association, LaSalle Bank, Equity Office Properties, and numerous other corporations and charities; Mr. Reinsdorf is also a current trustee of Northwestern University; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, Jerry Reinsdorf began his 25th season as chairman of the Chicago White Sox, the second-longest ownership tenure in franchise history behind club founder Charles Comiskey (1901-31) and the second-longest as a controlling owner among the 30 Major League clubs; during Reinsdorf's 25 seasons as chairman of the White Sox, the team has captured American League division championships four times, including an AL Central title in 2005; the White Sox, who also won division titles in 1983, 1993, and 2000, were in first place in both the 1994 and 2005 regular seasons; and

WHEREAS, During his career in professional sports, Mr. Reinsdorf has been responsible for the construction of two new sports facilities in Chicago, Comiskey Park (1991), now U.S. Cellular Field, and the United Center (1994); over the past five off-seasons, Mr. Reinsdorf, the White Sox, and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority have undertaken dramatic off-season renovations to U.S. Cellular Field with the goal of improving the ballpark experience for White Sox fans; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Reinsdorf expanded his involvement in professional sports in March 1985 by purchasing controlling interest in the Chicago Bulls; during his tenure as chairman of the Bulls, the team has captured six World Championships for Chicago (1991-1993, 1996-1998); and

WHEREAS, On October 26th, 2005, after the Chicago White Sox swept the Houston Astros to become the 2005 Major League Baseball World Series Champions, Mr. Jerry Reinsdorf became only the third owner in sports history to win championships in two of the four major sports (baseball, basketball, football and hockey); Mr. Reinsdorf has now won championships with both the Chicago Bulls (1991-1993 and 1996-1998) and the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that Mr. Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox, be recognized and honored for his ability and astuteness in assembling one of the most winning teams in Chicago White Sox history; not only did the 2005 Chicago White Sox have the best regular season record of all American League Baseball teams in the 2005 season (with 99 wins and 63 loses), but the 2005 Chicago White Sox have dominated the 2005 playoff postseason by sweeping the Boston Red Sox three games to none in the American League Division Series and then soundly defeating the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to become the first Chicago White Sox team in 46 years to reach the World Series; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Jerry Reinsdorf be honored by the 94th Illinois General Assembly by bringing the first World Series Championship to the Chicago White Sox since 1917, a span of 88 years; not only did the 2005 Chicago White Sox win the World Series, but did it by sweeping the Houston Astros in four straight games, showing that leadership, teamwork, and humility are the keys to success, from the owner down to each individual ball player; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Jerry Reinsdorf and his family and to the Chicago White Sox organization.