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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of John Joseph "Johnny" Lattner of Melrose
4Park, who passed away on February 13, 2016; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Johnny Lattner attended Fenwick High School from
61947 to 1950, where he excelled in both basketball and
7football; in 1949, he led the basketball team to a 22 and 7
8record and the Chicago Catholic League Championship, the first
9of back-to-back championships; he was affectionately known as
10"Mr. Fenwick"; Fenwick High School retired his jersey number in
112007, the first Fenwick athlete to receive such an honor; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Johnny Lattner was a frequent and enthusiastic
13visitor to basketball and football games at Fenwick High School
14and in the community, particularly those games when his
15grandchildren were playing; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Johnny Lattner attended the University of Notre
17Dame, where he was a two-time All-American and won the Maxwell
18Award as the best player in college football in 1952 and 1953;
19he won the 1953 Heisman Trophy and would often loan his trophy
20out to charities and fundraising organizations as a way to help
21them raise money; he was inducted into the Fenwick Hall of Fame
22and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Johnny Lattner was drafted into the National
2Football League in the first round in 1954; he played briefly
3for the Pittsburgh Steelers, making the Pro Bowl as a rookie;
4he then joined the United States Air Force to fulfill a
5two-year ROTC commitment; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Johnny Lattner coached football at the University
7of Denver until 1961; he operated Johnny Lattner's Steakhouse
8in the Loop; he worked in the printing business as
9Vice-President of Sales at Pal Graphics in Broadview when he
10retired from the restaurant business; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Johnny Lattner was preceded in death by his
12siblings, William Lattner and Patricia Brennan; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Johnny Lattner is survived by his wife, Peggy; his
14children, Jack (Ann) Lattner, Bill (Sheri) Lattner, Tim
15(Virginia) Lattner, Michael (Jen) Lattner, Kate (Pete) Gancer,
16Maggie (Larry) Skiver, Tricia (Bill) Smith, and Gretchen (Mike)
17Spillane; and his 26 grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
20John Joseph "Johnny" Lattner, and extend our sincere
21condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved

 

 

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1him; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Johnny Lattner as an expression of
4our deepest sympathy.