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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of John Karras of Indian Head Park, who
4 passed away on November 6, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, John Karras, a schoolboy football phenom known as
6 the "Argo Express," broke Red Grange's record for single season
7 rushing touchdowns at the University of Illinois before a brief
8 stint with the old Chicago Cardinals; and
 
9     WHEREAS, After his football career at Argo High School in
10 Summit, Mr. Karras put in 19 months in the United States Army,
11 serving in Japan during the Allied occupation, before suiting
12 up for the Fighting Illini; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Mr. Karras went on to ramble for 2,135 yards
14 during his playing career, still good enough for 10th on the
15 school's list of all-time rushing leaders; in 1951, he scored
16 12 touchdowns on the ground during the season, tying Grange's
17 record, then found pay dirt once more during the team's 40-7
18 New Year's Day rout of Stanford University in the Rose Bowl;
19 his 13 total rushing touchdowns was tops for Illinois until
20 Howard Griffith set a new mark of 15 in 1990; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Mr. Karras was a 1951 All America selection; the

 

 

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1 1952 Rose Bowl was seen by a national television audience, and
2 a TV guide dated December 29, 1951, featured Mr. Karras
3 bursting through fallen linemen in his No. 48 jersey on its
4 cover; Mr. Karras spent one season with the Chicago Cardinals
5 of the National Football League before an ankle injury ended
6 his playing career; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He went on to a long career in real estate; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Mr. Karras is survived by his wife, Norma; his
9 three sons, James, John, and William; his daughter, Laura
10 Hegner; his six grandchildren; and his great-grandchild;
11 therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
13 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
14 his family and friends, the passing of John Karras; and be it
15 further
 
16     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to the family of John Karras as a symbol of our
18 sincere sympathy.