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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
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learn of the death of John Karras of Indian Head Park, who 
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passed away on November 6, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, John Karras, a schoolboy football phenom known as 
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the "Argo Express," broke Red Grange's record for single season 
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rushing touchdowns at the University of Illinois before a brief 
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stint with the old Chicago Cardinals; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After his football career at Argo High School in 
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Summit, Mr. Karras put in 19 months in the United States Army, 
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serving in Japan during the Allied occupation, before suiting 
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up for the Fighting Illini; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Karras went on to ramble for 2,135 yards 
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during his playing career, still good enough for 10th on the 
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school's list of all-time rushing leaders; in 1951, he scored 
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12 touchdowns on the ground during the season, tying Grange's 
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record, then found pay dirt once more during the team's 40-7 
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New Year's Day rout of Stanford University in the Rose Bowl; 
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his 13 total rushing touchdowns was tops for Illinois until 
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Howard Griffith set a new mark of 15 in 1990; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Karras was a 1951 All America selection; the 
 


 






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1952 Rose Bowl was seen by a national television audience, and 
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a TV guide dated December 29, 1951, featured Mr. Karras 
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bursting through fallen linemen in his No. 48 jersey on its 
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cover;

Mr. Karras spent one season with the Chicago Cardinals 
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of the National Football League before an ankle injury ended 
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his playing career; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He went on to a long career in real estate; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Karras is survived by his wife, Norma; his 
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three sons, James, John, and William; his daughter, Laura 
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Hegner; his six grandchildren; and his great-grandchild; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of John Karras; and be it 
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further

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