HR0387 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0387 LRB103 33375 LAW 63187 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of James Schine "Jim" Crown, who passed away on June 25, 2023; and

WHEREAS, James Crown was born to Lester and Renée (Schine) Crown in Chicago on June 25, 1953; he graduated from New Trier East High School in Winnetka in 1971; he earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1976; he completed his law degree at Stanford University; he married Paula Hannaway in 1985; and

WHEREAS, After earning his law degree, James Crown began working for Salomon Brothers, the New York City investment bank, becoming vice president in 1983; after he and his wife moved to Chicago, he joined the family investment firm, Henry Crown and Company, where he served as chairman and CEO; and

WHEREAS, James Crown additionally served as director of General Dynamics, a member of the board of directors of JPMorgan Chase & Co., board chair of the Aspen Institute, and chairman of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, James Crown was an early supporter of Barack Obama after meeting him in 2003; he raised thousands of dollars in support of Obama's political campaigns for the U.S. Senate and the presidency, becoming Obama's chief presidential fundraiser in Illinois; he was appointed by then-President Obama to serve on the Intelligence Advisory Board, an independent group that advises the president on the effectiveness and goals of U.S. intelligence agencies; and

WHEREAS, James Crown was an avid philanthropist, donating his time and funds to various entities and organizations, including the University of Chicago, where he served as the chairman of the university's board of trustees from 2003 to 2009; he and his wife, Paula, additionally donated $75 million to the university in 2021; in turn, his family was honored when the university renamed its social services school as the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice; and

WHEREAS, More recently, James Crown concentrated his efforts on addressing the issue of gun violence in Chicago by encouraging the city's business leaders to create thousands of jobs in underserved areas of the city, providing millions of dollars for civilian violence intervention programs, and supporting law enforcement and low-income communities; and

WHEREAS, James Crown, who kept a home in Aspen, was also an avid skier and a managing partner of the Aspen Skiing Company, which operates a resort; and

WHEREAS, James Crown was a big-hearted, kind, and charitable individual who tirelessly fought for a better world for all, believed in the power of civic engagement, treated everyone with dignity and respect, and truly embodied the soul of Chicago; he will be remembered as an exemplary example of a great American; and

WHEREAS, James Crown is survived by his wife; his parents, his brothers, Steve and Daniel; his sisters, Patricia "PC", Susan, Sara, and Janet Crown; his daughters, Torie, Hayley, and Summer Crown; his son, W. Andrew Crown; and two grandsons; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James Schine "Jim" Crown 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 James Crown as an expression of our deepest sympathy.