RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, William Gaines has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 82; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, William Gaines was a widely admired member of Chicago's journalism community and the loving husband for 54 years of Nellie, nee Gilyan; and
WHEREAS, William Gaines was the much-adored father of Michael, Michelle and Matthew and the grandfather of six to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, William Gaines worked for 38 years at the Chicago Tribune where he won two Pulitzer Prizes for investigative reporting; and
WHEREAS, Known for his soft-spoken and unassuming nature, William Gaines was widely praised by his fellow reporters for his ability to interpret complex government documents; and
WHEREAS, William Gaines was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 1976 for uncovering widespread abuse in federal housing programs in Chicago and shocking conditions at two private Chicago hospitals; and
WHEREAS, William Gaines won another Pulitzer Prize in 1988 with other reporters for uncovering waste that plagued Chicago's City Council; and
WHEREAS, While working as a journalist, William Gaines taught investigative reporting at Columbia College in Chicago for more than two decades; and
WHEREAS, Following a long and illustrious career, William Gaines retired from the Chicago Tribune in 2001 and was the Knight Chair in Journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign until 2006; and
WHEREAS, William Gaines was the author of "Investigative Reporting for Print and Broadcast," a textbook used by more than 60 journalism programs; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of William Gaines serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared William Gaines 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, William Gaines was an individual of great integrity and accomplishment who will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, William Gaines 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 fourteenth day of September, 2016, do hereby commemorate William Gaines 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 William Gaines.