RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable William D. Hathaway has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable William D. Hathaway was the loving and devoted husband for 61 years of the late Mary Lee; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable William D. Hathaway was the beloved father of Fred and Susan, cherished grandfather of five and doting great-grandfather of one to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A valiant veteran of World War II, the Honorable William D. Hathaway was captured and held as a prisoner of war for three months by German forces in Romania after he parachuted from a damaged B-24 bomber; and
WHEREAS, For his courage under fire, the Honorable William D. Hathaway was awarded a Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross and discharged from the Army Air Forces with the rank of Captain; and
WHEREAS, A proud graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School, the Honorable William D. Hathaway served three terms as a U.S. Representative from Maine and played a key role in supporting President Lyndon Johnson's antipoverty programs and the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and
WHEREAS, In 1972 the Honorable William D. Hathaway pulled an upset victory over legendary U.S. Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine who was the first woman elected to both houses of Congress; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable William D. Hathaway advanced the cause of equality by introducing legislation in 1976 that paved the way for the admission of women to West Point and other military academies; and
WHEREAS, Following his term in the Senate, the Honorable William D. Hathaway did lobbyist and legal work in Washington, D.C., until 1990 when President George Bush appointed him a member of the Federal Maritime Commission, where he served as Chairman from 1993 to 1996; and
WHEREAS, The perseverance, sacrifice and dedication of the Honorable William D. Hathaway serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared the Honorable William D. Hathaway to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, the Honorable William D. Hathaway 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 twenty-fourth day of July 2013, do hereby commemorate the Honorable William D. Hathaway for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
Alderman - 14th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of the Honorable William D. Hathaway.