RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of eighty-nine; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A native of Chicago, William J. Cullerton was a highly decorated World War II fighter pilot and the loving husband of Elaine "Steve"; and
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton was the much-adored father of Pamela, Cynthia, Bill, Marc and Christine, the grandfather of nineteen and the great-grandfather of eight to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton enlisted in 1942 in the United States Army Air Forces after graduating from Fenwick High School; and
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton served with valor in aerial combat in the skies over Europe as a member of the Dragon Squadron; and
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton was the fourth highest-rated American ace of World War II and was credited with twenty-nine hits flying a Mustang P-51 called "Miss Steve"; and
WHEREAS, In 1945 William J. Cullerton was shot down by flak and captured by a Waffen-SS officer who shot him in the stomach and left him for dead; and
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton was found by American forces, hospitalized and returned to the United States shortly after the war in Europe ended; and
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart and the Silver Star; and
WHEREAS, William J. Cullerton was inducted into the Illinois Military Hall of Fame and the Champlin Fighter Aces Museum in Mesa, Arizona; and
WHEREAS, From 1979 to 1999, William J. Cullerton hosted the Great Outdoors Show on WGN Radio in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The courage, sacrifice and dedication of William J. Cullerton serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, William J. Cullerton imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this seventeenth day of January, 2013, do hereby commemorate William J. Cullerton for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVEDrfhat a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Wilftafm J. Cullerton.