SR0301 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0301 LRB094 12802 CSA 47646 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of George Mikan, the original "Mr. Basketball", of Arizona and formerly of Joliet, on June 1, 2005; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mikan was born June 18, 1924, in Joliet; he attended Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Quigley Preparatory Seminary School in Chicago, and graduated from DePaul University; he started studies to be a priest and was an accomplished classical pianist; he was told he could never play basketball because he wore glasses, but he persisted and proved everyone wrong; and

WHEREAS, George Mikan, a 6-foot-10 giant of a man who played basketball with superior coordination and a fierce competitive spirit, was one of the prototypes for the dominating tall players of later decades; and

WHEREAS, During George Mikan's college days at DePaul, he revolutionized the game; he, along with fellow Hall of Famer Bob Kurland, swatted away so many shots that in 1944 the NCAA introduced a rule that prohibited goaltending; and

WHEREAS, He was a three-time All-America (1944, 1945, 1946) and led the nation in scoring in 1945 and 1946; his 120 points in three games led DePaul to the 1945 NIT championship; he scored 1,870 points at DePaul and once tallied 53 against Rhode Island State, a remarkable feat considering he single-handedly outscored the entire Rhode Island State team; and

WHEREAS, In 1950, he was voted the greatest player in the first half of the century by the Associated Press; he won his first professional championship with the Chicago American Gears of the NBL in 1947 and captured six more pro titles (1 NBL-1948, 1 BAA-1949, and 4 NBA-1950, 1952-54); as the cornerstone of the Minneapolis Lakers, he led the NBA in scoring three times (1949-52), played in the first four NBA All-Star Games (MVP 1953), and led the league in rebounding twice (1952, 1953); and

WHEREAS, Towering over most of his competitors, he was one of the most effective scorers of his day, averaging 22.6 points over a professional career that lasted nine years - one with the Chicago American Gears and eight with the Minneapolis Lakers; and

WHEREAS, He announced his retirement after the Lakers' 1954 championship run and devoted all his energies to his law career and to raising his large family; while practicing corporate and real estate law, he also bought and renovated buildings in Minneapolis; he was in the first class elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959; in 1967, he returned to the basketball world to become the first commissioner of the American Basketball Association (ABA); faced with all the problems of trying to create and sustain a fledgling professional sports organization, he came up with the novel idea of the league's multicolored basketball; and

WHEREAS, He served as ABA commissioner until 1969; he resurfaced in the mid-1980s as the head of a task force whose goal was to bring professional basketball back to Minneapolis; with the financial backing of local businessmen, he successfully lobbied the NBA to add an expansion team in Minnesota for the 1989-90 season; the team became the Minnesota Timberwolves; one of the most dominant players ever to play the game, George Mikan's contributions to the sport and his impact on the NBA still loom as large as his 6-10 frame; his accomplishments were further acknowledged when he was named a member of the NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1996; and

WHEREAS, The passing of George Mikan is felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife of 58 years, Patricia; his children, G. Larry Mikan, Terry (Karen) Mikan, Patrick Mikan, Michael (Karla) Mikan, Tricia (Doug) Johnson, and Maureen Mikan; and his grandchildren, Gina, Molly Marysa, Shannon, Max, Jenna, Kristin, and Keara Mikan and Christine and Danny Johnson; and

WHEREAS, While one of the most outstanding athletes in history, George Mikan will be remembered for his big smile, positive attitude, and competitive spirit; he was a major role model for all the young people who grew up watching him dominate his sport while still being a kind, thoughtful, clean living citizen; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of George Mikan and extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.