RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING GEORGE MIKAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHICAGO'S
CROATIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
A resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Chicago, sponsored by Alderman Debra L. Silverstein, 50th Ward -
WHEREAS, George Mikan was born in Joliet, Illinois to parents who were part ofthe 40,000-strong Croatian-American community in Illinois. His skills on the basketball court, his tremendous size and his kindness in his personal life led to his nickname "the gentle giant"; and
WHEREAS, George Mikan, also referred to as "Mr. Basketball", revolutionized basketball as a professional sport, including spurring the league to change many of its regulations as a response to his unparalleled skill. In 1959, Mikan was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in 1996 he was recognized as one ofthe NBA's 50 Greatest Players; and
WHEREAS, George Mikan's contributions to athletics continued far beyond his retirement. Mikan lobbied for fair pensions for players until the time of his death in 2005; and
WHEREAS, George Mikan remains an inspiration for members of Chicago's Croation-American community, particularly his cousin, Joseph Mikan; now, therefore,
DEBRA L. SILVERSTEIN ALDERMAN - 50TH WARD
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-first day of January, 2015, recognize and applaud George Mikan's contributions to the athletic legacy of Illinois residents and particularly those of Croatian descent. We are grateful for all that George Mikan contributed to Chicago, and his memory will continue to inspire this city for/yjearsJo come.