HR0077 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0077 LRB096 11054 KXB 21372 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Sam Minkus of Chicago on the occasion of his 100th birthday, March 9, 2009; and

WHEREAS, He was born March 9, 1909 in Zhitomer, Russia and emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada in 1914; he came to Chicago in 1920; and

WHEREAS, He married Lillian Wein of Chicago in 1942; he was a Private First Class in the United States Army, stationed in El Paso, Texas and Orlando, Florida during World War II; and

WHEREAS, He taught Lightweight and Welterweight Champion Barney Ross how to fight; he refereed boxing matches at the Chicago YMCA and Chicago Catholic League basketball games when legendary DePaul Blue Demon basketball coach Ray Meyer played; and

WHEREAS, He sold venetian blinds and opened up a small factory on the near north side of Chicago; he worked in the luggage industry at Singer Better Built Luggage and later became the plant manager for Everwear Incorporated, the manufacturer of the original Trav-L-Bar from 1957 until 1984, when he retired at the age of 75; and

WHEREAS, He has lived on Winthrop Avenue, Glenwood Avenue, and Winston Towers on Kedzie Avenue in Chicago; he was an active member of Congregation B’nai Zion in Chicago; he played golf until he was 90 and drove until he was 94; he will celebrate with his children, Paul and Sherry Minkus and Loren and Gayle Minkus; his grandchildren, Michelle, Jamie, Ellie, and Aaron; and his great-grandchildren, Lilly and Lilah; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Sam Minkus on his centennial birthday celebration and wish him good health and fortune for the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Sam Minkus as a symbol of our profound respect and esteem.