MEMORIAL RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that members of this Chamber learned ofthe death of William H. Luking, on June 12, 2014, at the age of sixty-six; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed of his passing by The Honorable Margaret Laurino, Alderman ofthe 39th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Born on August 7,1947, Luking, as he was fondly called by all who knew him, was the beloved eldest son ofthe late Lowell and the late Elizabeth McCarthy Luking; loving brother of Laura (Peter) Jamison and Meg Luking of Indianapolis; Mary Anne Morris (the late Samuel C), Beth Luking, Gene (Debbie) Luking, Joe (Johnnie) Luking, Charlene (Larry) Wood and Rosemary (Jay) Card, all of Connersville; cherished uncle of thirteen nieces and nephews and thirteen great-nieces and great-nephews; treasured companion of C laire Manning for the past several years; and friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Luking leaves a legacy of faith, compassion, dignity and love; and
WHEREAS, Luking was a 1965 graduate of Connersville High School; 1969 cum laude graduate ofthe University of Notre Dame; 1972 graduate of Northwestern University Law School, where he edited the prestigious criminal law journal; and
WHEREAS, His family has fond memories of watching him as a participant on GE College Bowl, a popular academic TV game show that ran for years. Unfortunately, the men from Notre Dame lost to the brainy women of Bryn Mawr that day; and
WHEREAS, He chose to stay in Chicago after graduating from law school, eventually founding his own firm, Luking and Associates, and becoming an influential lobbyist for the City of Chicago and other clients. Representing his beloved city in the legislature in Springfield beginning in 1988 involved him in numerous significant issues affecting Chicago and its relationship with state government, focusing on complex matters in taxation, appropriations, economic development, public pensions and public transit. He also represented the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, Chicago City Colleges, and the Chicago Transportation Authority and most recently he was involved in matters concerning the expansion of Soldier Field, negotiations resulting in Boeing's move to Chicago, the privatization of Midway Airport, legislation needed to support the proposed Olympic Games, as well as the special pride that he had in his work for the Chicago Botanical Garden. Truly loving his legal and political work, he felt blessed to be a part of Chicago's business and busyness. An often quoted line goes something like - "Find something you love to do and you'll never work a day in your life"; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Rahm Emmanuel had asked Luking to hold his proxy on the Board of Directors ofthe Illinois Municipal League, in addition, he also served on numerous and varied working groups for the Illinois State Legislature and the Illinois State Board of Elections. For thirty years he was relied upon by multiple generations of Springfield insiders and participants. His friends and associates ranged from young inters and lawyers eager to learn the ropes to seasoned legislators who sought him out for his excellent memory of legislative matters from decades earlier; and
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WHEREAS, Luking, who touched the lives of all who knew him through his kindness, generosity, heart and spirit, was an active and vital member of his community, serving in the United States Army Reserves, where he held a commission as a first lieutenant; performing pro bono work to secure funding and support for the Chicago Christian Industrial League, Tuesday's Child, the Howard Area Community Association, the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, and the Southwest Youth Collaborative; and
WHEREAS, Luking will be deeply missed, but the memory of his character, intelligence and compassion will live on in those who knew and loved him; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-fifth day of June, 2014, do hereby express our sorrow on the death of William H. Luking and extend to his family and friends our deepest sympathy; and
MARGARET LAURINO Alderman, 39th Ward
Be It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William H. Luking.
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