SR0329 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0329 LRB100 12019 MST 24000 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Frank J. Bussone of Roanoke, who passed away on March 15, 2017 at the age of 74; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone graduated from Roanoke-Benson High School, where he served as the President of his senior class; he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Bradley University, where he also taught; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone was a National Fellows and earned a full scholarship towards his doctoral work in communications from the University of Southern California (USC); while at USC, he coached the General Electric College Bowl Quiz Team to an undefeated national title which was televised on NBC-TV in New York City; two years later, he coached Bradley's College Bowl Team to a perfect record and another national championship also televised on NBC-TV in New York City; he is the only person to have coached two universities to national championships; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone's career began at Bradley University as an Administrator, where he brought the sitting President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, to campus for a speech; he also worked at WMBD-TV and Radio, calling Bradley basketball games, IHSA State Basketball Tournaments, and anchored weekend sports on Channel 31 WMBD; he served as Vice-President of The Dirksen Congressional Leadership Center in Pekin; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone moved to WEEK-TV, where his Sunday evening sports program became the area's top-rated sports show; in just a few years, he was named President and CEO of WEEK-TV, where he brought Ronald and Nancy Reagan and George H.W. and Barbara Bush to the station to prepare and give their 1980 election eve address; he served as Executive Vice-President of Eagle Broadcasting Company in New York City and was named the anchor television play-by-play broadcaster for the Illinois State High School Basketball Tourney on WGN-TV and the State Network; he served for 11 top-rated years while still leading WEEK-TV and calling Bradley Basketball on TV; he broadcast more Bradley basketball games on TV than anyone in history; he built a brand new TV station during his tenure at WEEK; in 1983, he was elected to the State of Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame, and in 1988, was elected to the Bradley University Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone covered two of the most famous basketball games in history - the longest game in college basketball history - the seven-overtime battle in 1981 between Bradley and Cincinnati at Robertson Fieldhouse; he also called the play-by-play for "The greatest game ever in the IHSA Basketball Tourney" - the 1989 three-overtime game between Peoria Central and East St. Louis Lincoln; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone became President and CEO of The Proctor Healthcare Foundation, where he directed the massive development project and acquisition of adjacent homes for the hospital expansion; he also secured the naming gift for the Ameel G. Rashid Center for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone served on the Board of Directors of St. Jude Children's Hospital, where he was co-host of the annual telethons with Danny Thomas, Marlo Thomas, Phil Donahue, and Jim Maloof; he was elected to the Board of Directors of the State of Illinois American Heart Association; he was named by Governor Jim Edgar as the sole public member of the Illinois Optometric Board, where he served 12 years, longer than any public member; he served on the Board of Directors of Family House, Junior Achievement, The Hult Center for Health Education, the Peoria Civic Opera Co., the Bradley University National Alumni Association, and was one of the founding members of the Bradley Chiefs Club; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone was named to the "Who's Who in America" for the first time in 1998 and for several years after; he was given the honor of inclusion in Outstanding Young Men in America, Community Leaders of the World, International Who's Who in Community Service, International Who's Who of Intellectuals, and Outstanding Leaders of the Bicentennial Era; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone gave speeches in most major cities in the U.S. and shared the dais with numerous celebrities, including President George H.W. Bush, U.S. Senate Leader Howard Baker, President Ronald Reagan, Vice-President Al Gore, General William Westmorland, Surgeon General C. Everett Coop, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili, President Gerald Ford, Ambassador Nancy Brinker, Governor and Mrs. Jim Edgar, Harry Caray, and Jack Brickhouse; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone conducted numerous interviews in Hollywood and around the country while at NBC-TV; some of those include Johnny Carson, Ted Danson, Mohammad Ali, Vin Scully, Dick Enberg, Barbara Eden, Morgan Fairchild, Michael J. Fox, Connie Chung, Al Maguire, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Mary Tyler Moore, Grant Tinker, and many more; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph T. and Olma F. Bussone; his special aunt, Mona Descarpentrie; and his grandparents, Frank and Julia Descarpentrie, and Constance and Valentina Bussone; and

WHEREAS, Frank Bussone is survived by his wife, Lisa Cantor-Bussone; his son, R.J. (Jennifer) Bussone; his granddaughters, Julia, Corinne, and Natalie Bussone; his former wife, Karen Bussone; his stepchildren, Taylor Wright-Simmons, and Carson Wright; and his step-granddaughter, Sophia Simmons; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Frank J. Bussone, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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