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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
JERRY REINSDORF INDUCTION INTO THE NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME
WHEREAS, on September 9th, 2016, Jerry Reinsdorf, owner and chairman of the Chicago Bulls, will be inducted, into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 25, 1936, to Max and Marion Reinsdorf.
WHEREAS, After completing high school Jerry Reinsdorf would earn his bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in Washington D. C.; and would eventually move to Cook County to attend the Northwestern University School of Law; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf began his professional career as a tax attorney with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In 1964, he began his own private practice that he would eventually sell in favor of starting a real estate venture named Balcor. He would later sell Balcor as well; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf, as part of a group, purchased the Chicago Bulls as part of a syndicate for $16M in 1985. He quickly increased attendance, and drafted a number of now-legendary players such as Horace Grant, John Paxson, Bill Cartwright, Scottie Pippen, and Michael Jordan. He would also sign Phil Jackson to replace Doug Collins as head coach in 1989; and
WHEREAS, under Jerry Reinsdorf’s leadership the Chicago Bulls won six NBA Championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998), six Eastern Conference titles, and nine division titles; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf has also owned Major League Baseball’s Chicago White Sox since 1981, and celebrated a World Series championship in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame alongside the rest of the class of 2016 which includes: Allen Iverson, Shaquille O’Neal, Sheryl Swoopes, Cumberland Posey, Yao Ming, Zelmo Beaty, Tom Izzo, John Mclendon and Darell Garretson; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Reinsdorf is married to Martyl Reinsdorf and they have four children: David (deceased), Susan, Michael and Jonathan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, do extend their most sincere congratulations to Jerry Reinsdorf on the occasion of his enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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