HR1325 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Since 1952, the Chicago Blackhawks, a member of the "Original Six" teams of the National Hockey League, have played for almost half a century under the executive leadership of Arthur Wirtz and his son, William "Bill" Wirtz, patriarchs of Illinois professional sports; and

WHEREAS, In October 2007, Arthur Wirtz's grandson, William Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz, took over executive leadership of the Chicago Blackhawks, a team already graced with the presence of Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, future team captain Jonathan Toews, and many other future stars and superstars of professional hockey; and

WHEREAS, Upon the base provided by these future superstars, Rocky Wirtz has achieved one of the most dramatic achievements of executive leadership in the history of the National Hockey League; in November of 2007 he hired John McDonough as team president of the Chicago Blackhawks; in of October 2008 he hired Joe Quenneville as head coach; and in July of 2009 he hired Stan Bowman as general manager; and

WHEREAS, On June 9, 2010, Rocky Wirtz's Chicago Blackhawks team, under the executive leadership of team president John McDonough and general manager Stan Bowman, and the field leadership of head coach Joel Quenneville and team captain Jonathan Toews, won their fourth Stanley Cup, the supreme trophy of professional ice hockey; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the sports ownership and executive leadership of William Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks franchise, upon the hoisting by the Blackhawks of the 2009-10 Stanley Cup in acknowledgement of their position as the champions of North American ice hockey; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the entire Wirtz family, starting with patriarch Arthur Wirtz, for their roles as owners in Chicago professional sports, leaders of the Illinois business community, and anchors and developers of Chicago's West Side; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to William Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz as a token of our appreciation for the leadership role of the Wirtz family, and for the performance of excellence demonstrated by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.