SR0595 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0595 LRB096 19608 KXB 35002 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Gleason, who passed away on January 3, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Bill Gleason was born and raised in Chicago's South Side by his parents, Joseph Gleason and Helen O'Brien Gleason; he attended Parker High School, now Paul Robeson High School; he served in the United States Army in France during World War II, receiving a Silver Star on his 22nd birthday in 1944; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, Mr. Gleason helped create a Sunday afternoon radio sports talk show called "The Sports Writers"; in 1985, the show expanded to become the nationally syndicated television program "The Sports Writers on TV" and ran until 1997; and

WHEREAS, His sportswriting career started when he was in grammar school; his sister recalled that "he would listen to a radio broadcast of a college game from beginning to end, then go into his room, pick up a composition book and write his personal report of the entire game,"; at the age of 19, Mr. Gleason became sports editor of the then-Southtown Economist; Mr. Gleason's long journalism career also included stints at the now-defunct Chicago American, South Bend Tribune in Indiana, and the Daily Southtown; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gleason wrote three books: Footsteps of a Giant, The Liquid Cross of Skid Row, and Daley of Chicago; Mr. Gleason officially retired in 2001 but continued to speak at various engagements; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gleason's most significant charitable involvement included working with Misericordia Heart of Mercy, Maryville Academy, and Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities; he was one of the founders of the Red Cloud Athletic Fund; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Gleason is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Gleason; his two sisters, Bette Conroy and Helen Dunne; his two brothers, Joe and Bernie Gleason; his five children, Terence, Kevin, Martin, Amy, and Jeanine Ranzen; and his nine grandchildren; therefore, be it

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

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bill Gleason as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.