RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Richard L. Duchossois celebrates another year of life at 100 years of age including a lifetime of achievements; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Richard was born to Alphonse Christopher and Erna (Hessler) Duchossois in Chicago on October 7,1921; and
WHEREAS, Richard graduated from Morgan Park Military Academy and attended Washington and Lee University before entering active military service in 1942 during World War II; and
WHEREAS, He served in five European campaigns including Normandy where he was a commander with the 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and served as the military governor for the region of Eichstatt, and was promoted to the rank of Major before he was discharged from active duty in 1946; and
WHEREAS, During his military service, Richard was cited for bravery receiving various medals, including a Purple Heart for his injuries in combat at the Moselle River and two Bronze Stars; and
WHEREAS, After World War II Richard married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Thrall and joined the Thrall Car Manufacturing Company ("Thrall"), and became its CEO in 1952; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, as Chairman ofthe Duchossois Group, an investment company, Richard purchased Arlington Park Race Track; and
WHEREAS, Richard also owned Des Moines TV Station KDSM-TV (formerly KCBR-TV) from 1983 to 1991; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, Arlington Park merged with Churchill Downs Incorporated, where the Duchossois Group was awarded several seats on the Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, Richard serves as a director of TCMC, Inc., the Emirates World Series of Racing, and the Thoroughbred Racing Association; and
WHEREAS, Richard's awards include the 1986 American Jockey Club's Gold Medal, the 1980 Special Sovereign Award from the Jockey Club of Canada, and Lord Derby Award for Meritorious Service to Racing from the National Turf Writers Association, the 2003 Eclipse Award of Merit, and in...
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