HR1236 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1236 LRB097 22921 MST 71725 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate William Niro on his 2012 induction into the Arena League Football (AFL) Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, William Niro is one of the original founders of the AFL; he has spent 25 years contributing to the progress and advancement of the league; he helped the AFL recently see their 25th anniversary of operations; and

WHEREAS, William Niro represented founder and game inventor, Jim Foster, in formation of the league in 1987; he founded Gridiron Enterprises, which established the team-owned AFL with Foster, now-commissioner Jerry B. Kurz, and Mike Highley in 1990; he also managed the business, legal, and financial affairs of the league from 1989-1992; and

WHEREAS, William Niro served on the AFL Board of Directors for 20 years from 1990-2010, and still dedicates his time and effort to the league; and

WHEREAS, William Niro was involved in every aspect of the game other than the play on the field, even putting together the goal frames at one point; and

WHEREAS, William Niro will be officially inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame the first week of the 2013 season; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate William Niro on being inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame and on the AFL's 25th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to William Niro as an expression of our esteem and respect.