SR1908 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1908 LRB099 21977 GRL 49059 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Bill Grimshaw, who passed away on March 30, 2016 at the age of 77; and

WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw grew up near Belmont Avenue and Clifton Avenue in Chicago; his parents were Elmer Grimshaw and Violet Teppo Grimshaw; and

WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw attended Lane Tech and Lake View High Schools before serving in the United States Army in France; after returning to Chicago, he studied at Wright Junior College; in 1962, he entered the University of Chicago, where he earned a political science degree; while working at Chicago's main post office, he met Jacquelyne Lane, whom he married in 1964; in 1973, he and his wife moved to Greenwood, where they lived until 2009; and

WHEREAS, After college, Bill Grimshaw taught political science at the Illinois Institute of Technology for 30 years; he was also a visiting associate professor at the University of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw and his wife were instrumental in the election of Harold Washington, the city's first black mayor, in 1983; the Grimshaws and other campaign workers studied precincts where voters had rejected other candidates and targeted those areas with volunteers, campaign literature, and appearances by future Mayor Washington; and

WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw was the author of the 1995 book, "Bitter Fruit: Black Politics and the Chicago Machine, 1931-1991", which is still regarding as a classic in the field in Chicago politics; and

WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw enjoyed breeding Rottweilers; originally planning to sell them, he became so attached that he could not bring himself to do so; they eventually found homes for the dogs, except the matriarch, Jasper, and her strongest puppy, Bruiser; he also enjoyed Haagen-Dazs Rocky Road ice cream, reading the works of Raymond Chandler and Elmore Leonard, talking politics at the Valois Restaurant, spending summers at the Wisconsin Dells, and spending time with his family; and

WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw is survived by his wife, Jacquelyne; his daughter, Kim Grimshaw Bolton; his son, Chris; his brother, Alan; and four grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Bill Grimshaw; and be it further

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