SR1073 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1073 LRB100 15308 MST 30474 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William "Bill" Martin Jr., who passed away on July 7, 2017, at the age of 80; and

WHEREAS, Bill Martin was born in Chicago on August 19, 1936; he grew up in Oak Park, where he lived most of his life; he attended St. Giles School and Fenwick High School, where he was active in the Blackfriars Guild theater club and became editor of the school paper, "The Wick", his junior year; he graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in history; he received his Juris Doctor from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1961, where he founded and edited the "Loyola Law Times" and was named Outstanding Law Student in 1961; and

WHEREAS, Bill Martin began working in the state's attorney's office in 1962, where he gained a reputation for his low-key, professional personality in the courtroom; in 1968, he became chief of special prosecutions for the Cook County State's Attorney's office; he began practicing private law in 1970 and became a founding partner in the criminal defense firm Martin, Breen and Merrick; and

WHEREAS, Bill Martin was assigned a case that was often called "the crime of the century" when he was appointed chief prosecutor in the Richard Speck murder case in 1996; the trial captured the nation's attention because of the random nature of the attack, thought to be the first of its kind; he successfully convinced the jury to give Speck the death penalty for his actions, though the ruling was later modified to a life sentence by the U.S. Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, Bill Martin is remembered as a teacher of the law and mentor to many young lawyers; he taught at Northwestern University School of Law as an assistant professor and taught constitutional law at Rosary College; in addition, he lectured on ethical and practical issues of the law; and

WHEREAS, Bill Martin was also an avid writer and authored the 1993 book, "Crime of the Century: Richard Speck and the Murder of Eight Nurses", in order to preserve an accurate record of the Speck murder case; throughout his life, he published numerous essays in the "Chicago Daily Law Bulletin" and wrote many books reviews and legal stories; and

WHEREAS, Bill Martin held a lifelong passion for ice hockey, which he played in his free time into his 70s; and

WHEREAS, Bill Martin is survived by his children, Marc W. Martin, Patrick S. Martin, Colleen J. Martin, Victoria M. Silber, Douglas J. Martin, and Kelly B. McGinnis; and his grandchildren, Breanna and Marc Liam Martin, Owen and James Woo, and Logan, Kelin, Riley, and Lizzy Silber; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William Martin Jr., 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 Bill Martin as an expression of our deepest sympathy.