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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, Since 1952, the Chicago Blackhawks, a member of 
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the "Original Six" teams of the National Hockey League, have 
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played for almost half a century under the executive leadership 
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of Arthur Wirtz and his son, William "Bill" Wirtz, patriarchs 
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of Illinois professional sports; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In October 2007, Arthur Wirtz's grandson, William 
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Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz, took over executive leadership of the 
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Chicago Blackhawks, a team already graced with the presence of 
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Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, 
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future team captain Jonathan Toews, and many other future stars 
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and superstars of professional hockey; and


  
 
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    WHEREAS, Upon the base provided by these future superstars, 
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Rocky Wirtz has achieved one of the most dramatic achievements 
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of executive leadership in the history of the National Hockey 
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League; in November of 2007 he hired John McDonough as team 
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president of the Chicago Blackhawks; in of October 2008 he 
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hired Joe Quenneville as head coach; and in July of 2009 he 
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hired Stan Bowman as general manager; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, On June 9, 2010, Rocky Wirtz's Chicago Blackhawks 
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team, under the executive leadership of team president John 
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McDonough and general manager Stan Bowman, and the field 
 


 






HR1325
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leadership of head coach Joel Quenneville and team captain 
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Jonathan Toews, won their fourth Stanley Cup, the supreme 
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trophy of professional ice hockey; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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honor the sports ownership and executive leadership of William 
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Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz, owner of the Chicago Blackhawks 
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franchise, upon the hoisting by the Blackhawks of the 2009-10 
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Stanley Cup in acknowledgement of their position as the 
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champions of North American ice hockey; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That we honor the entire Wirtz family, starting 
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with patriarch Arthur Wirtz, for their roles as owners in 
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Chicago professional sports, leaders of the Illinois business 
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community, and anchors and developers of Chicago's West Side; 
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and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to William Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz as a token of our 
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appreciation for the leadership role of the Wirtz family, and 
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for the performance of excellence demonstrated by the Chicago 
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Blackhawks in 2010.