HR0193 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0193 LRB097 11252 GRL 53238 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jim Tyree; and

WHEREAS, Jim Tyree grew up in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago; as a young boy, he delivered the Beverly Review and Southtown Economist newspapers; and

WHEREAS, Jim Tyree attended St. Barnabas Elementary School and Marist High School; he subsequently attended school in the City Colleges of Chicago system and at Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree and his Master of Business Administration degree; and

WHEREAS, Jim Tyree served as chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial and as chairman of Sun-Times Media; he began his career at Mesirow, a diversified financial services firm, in 1980; after beginning as a research associate, he was named president of the firm in 1990, chief executive officer in 1992 and chairman and chief executive officer in 1994; under his leadership, Mesirow acquired some 50 firms, including the U.S. Corporate Recovery practice from KPMG LLP, Dann Insurance, and Boockford and Company; in October of 2009, he led an investment group that took the parent company of the Chicago Sun-Times and dozens of suburban newspapers out of bankruptcy; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, Jim Tyree was appointed to serve as board chairman of the City Colleges system by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley; he served in the position with pride and distinction for 10 years; he also served on dozens of corporate, civic, and not-for-profit boards, including the board of the University of Chicago Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, Jim Tyree was well known for his great generosity; he donated more than $500,000 each year to charities; he also championed research on diabetes, a disease that affected him during his life; he was named the 2004 Person of the Year by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in recognition of his work; and

WHEREAS, Jim Tyree was a lifelong fan of the Chicago White Sox; and

WHEREAS, Jim Tyree is survived by his loving wife, Eve, and his children, Jessica, Matthew, and Joseph; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Jim Tyree; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jim Tyree as an expression of our sympathy.