093_SR0121
LRB093 11548 HSS 14900 r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of
3 Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Edward W.
4 McCaskey of Des Plaines, Chairman Emeritus of the Chicago
5 Bears Football Club Board of Directors, on Tuesday, April 8,
6 2003; and
7 WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey was born on April 27, 1919 in
8 Philadelphia to the late Richard and Catheryn McCaskey; he
9 attended the University of Pennsylvania; he married Virginia
10 Halas on February 2, 1943; and
11 WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey valiantly served his country during
12 World War II in the United States Army 80th Infantry in
13 France; he entered the war as a private and was honorably
14 discharged with the rank of captain; he earned a Bronze Star
15 and Combat Infantry Badge for his performance in combat; and
16 WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. McCaskey moved to the Chicago area
17 in 1949 where Mr. McCaskey became a top salesman for the E.F.
18 MacDonald Corporation; in 1967, he became a vice president
19 with the Chicago Bears football organization and in 1983, he
20 became the Chairman of the Board; in February of 1999, he
21 became Chairman Emeritus of the Board; he was known as the
22 conscience of the NFL; and
23 WHEREAS, Prior to becoming vice president, Mr. McCaskey
24 became a very good friend of Brian Piccolo, a Bears running
25 back; Mr. Piccolo tragically died of cancer in 1970 and Mr.
26 McCaskey wrote the famous speech for Gale Sayers that was
27 immortalized in the TV movie "Brian's Song"; he was an
28 instrumental part of the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund
29 and the Piccolo Golf Committee, both of which have donated
30 millions over the years to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
31 in New York; he was also a support to the family of Walter
32 Payton during Mr. Payton's battle with liver disease; and
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1 WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey and his wife believed very firmly
2 in the support of charitable causes and were involved with
3 the Sisters of the Congregation of the Holy Family of
4 Nazareth; Mr. McCaskey led the development of the Bears Care
5 program in which the Bears team partnered with the Robert R.
6 McCormick Tribune Foundation to support programs designed to
7 positively impact people in the areas of education, youth and
8 families, athletics, entrepreneurship, and health with a
9 particular emphasis on programs aimed at disadvantaged youth;
10 the fund also considers programs devoted to physically
11 challenged individuals and programs that promote healthy,
12 drug-free lifestyles; and
13 WHEREAS, Mr. McCaskey enjoyed singing; at one time he
14 aspired to be a professional singer, and he continued making
15 CDs past his 80th birthday; he was an avid horse racing fan;
16 he is remembered as a mentor, a good-hearted man, a
17 storyteller, an upbeat person, and a family man; and
18 WHEREAS, The passing of Edward W. McCaskey has been
19 deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Virginia; his
20 children, Michael (Nancy), Tim (Dawn), Ellen (Barney)
21 Tonquest, Patrick (Gretchen), Mary, Edward Jr. (Kathy), Anne
22 (Mike) Catron, George (Barbara), Richard, Brian (Barbara),
23 and Joseph McCaskey; his many grandchildren and
24 great-grandchildren; and his sister and brother, Kay Adelman
25 and James (Maggie) McCaskey; his siblings Thomas (Betty),
26 Julie Wolff, and Richard McCaskey, preceded him in death;
27 therefore, be it
28 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
29 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with his
30 friends, family, and all the fans and members of the Chicago
31 Bears Football Club, we mourn the passing of Edward W.
32 McCaskey, and we extend to his friends and family our deepest
33 sympathy; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to the family of Edward W. McCaskey as an
3 expression of our sincere condolences during their time of
4 loss.