RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Aldermen Edward M. Burke and Joe Moore; and
WHEREAS, A longtime resident of Chicago, the Honorable Abner J. Mikva was the loving husband for 68 years of Zoe; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva was the much-adored father of Mary Lane, Lauri, and Rachel and the grandfather of seven to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Honorable Abner J. Mikva enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and following his honorable discharge graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago Law School; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva was elected in 1956 to the Illinois General Assembly where he served five terms in office; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva was elected to Congress in 1968 where he served five terms and was a member of both the Judiciary Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee; and
WHEREAS, Following his tenure on Capitol Hill, the Honorable Abner J. Mikva was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia where he sat for fifteen years, the last four as Chief Judge; and
WHEREAS, In 1994 the Honorable Abner Mikva stepped down from the court to become White House Counsel for President Bill Clinton; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva later taught at the University of Chicago Law School; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his many profession achievements, the Honorable Abner J. Mikva and his wife founded the Mikva Challenge, a program that empowers young people to become election judges, volunteer on campaigns and create local activism projects to improve their schools and communities; and
WHEREAS, In 2014 Abner J. Mikva received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Abner J. Mikva serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva 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, the Honorable Abner J. Mikva 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 twentieth day of July, 2016, do hereby commemorate the Honorable Abner J. Mikva for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of the Honorable Abner J. Mikva.