HR1358 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1358 LRB097 23780 GRL 72938 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of former State Representative Harold A. Katz, who passed away on December 6, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Katz was born on November 2, 1921, in Shelbyville, Tennessee; his parents were Maurice W. and Gertrude Evelyn Cohen Katz; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Katz attended Vanderbilt University, where he wrote for the school newspaper, was an early supporter of integration and civil rights, was a collegiate chess champion, and earned his bachelor of arts degree in economics in 1943; during World War II, he worked for the War Labor Board and the National Labor Relations Board; he subsequently attended the University of Chicago, where he received his juris doctor in 1948 and his master of arts degree in labor economics in 1958; and

WHEREAS, As a renowned labor attorney, Mr. Katz fought for and represented the rights of working men and women for more than 50 years; along with Irving Friedman, whom Harold met when they were on opposing sides of a labor relations case, he founded the law firm of Katz and Friedman in the 1950s; the firm has grown over the years, representing labor unions, their members, and the injured, and is now known as Katz, Friedman, Eagle, Eisenstein, Johnson, and Bareck; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Katz filled his career with many honors and achievements, including authoring 2 major law books and a number of articles published in professional journals; he served in all 3 branches of government, as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, as a legal counsel on legislation to Governor Otto Kerner, and as master-in-chancery at the trial court level in Cook County; he received the Laureate Award from the Illinois State Bar Association in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Katz served for 18 years in the Illinois House of Representatives, beginning as an at-large member during the 74th General Assembly in 1965; he later represented Chicago's northern suburbs in the 1st District from 1967 until his retirement from the House in 1983; during his tenure as a legislator, he was known for his hard work, independence, and integrity, and he fought to pass budget reforms and new laws requiring accessibility for disabled persons; as an active member of the Judiciary Committee, he was a leader in updating the State's criminal laws; he also helped to create and chair the Commission on the Organization of the General Assembly, which streamlined and modernized the legislature; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Katz was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Ethel Mae; he is survived by their children, Alan (Pauline Bassett), B.J. (Derek Nadeau), Julia, and Joel (Laura Thorp), and their grandchildren, Ethan, Elena (Wesley) Legg, Daniel, Julianna, and Jeremy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Harold A. Katz; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Harold A. Katz as a symbol of our deepest sympathies and great esteem.