HR0917 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0917 LRB102 28582 MST 40460 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Taft's Mr. Ribeye, a staple of the Illinois State Fair, on its 50th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, In the summer of 1973, Delbert Taft, and his good friend, Loren Schlipf, collaborated and created a way to promote the beef industry by selling ribeye steak sandwiches; and

WHEREAS, At first, their ribeye sales idea was a volunteer operation only open from 10:00am to 2:00pm in front of Barn 13 near the Coliseum, and a ribeye steak sandwich cost $2.50; approximately three years later, Delbert and Steve Taft addressed the idea as a business and eventually turned it into Taft's Mr. Ribeye; at that time, a second stand was added at the corner of Barn 25A on the way to the Grandstand; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, Delbert and Steve Taft witnessed many exciting and interesting events, including serving Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys at the stand, Garth Brooks concerts, serving AJ Foyt on the infield in 2000, two hours of steady customers after the Snoop Dog concert, Trevor Wolfe running head first into a garbage dumpster, President George H.W. Bush walking by the stand, multiple Willie Nelson concerts, the storm in 1986, and Joe Hill holding on to the cylinder of LP; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois State Fair in 1983 was especially memorable, as Mandy Taft, Steve Taft's daughter and Delbert's granddaughter, was born on parade day; and

WHEREAS, Many wonderful people have worked at Taft's Mr. Ribeye over the years, including Rick Swan, who has been there for 38 years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Taft's Mr. Ribeye on its 50th anniversary and commend the Taft family for the pride they have taken in the growth and development of their stands over the years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Taft's Mr. Ribeye and the Taft family as a symbol of our esteem and respect.