Bill Text: IL SR1908 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Bill Grimshaw.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2016-05-27 - Resolution Adopted [SR1908 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SR1908-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Bill Grimshaw, who passed away on March
30, 2016 at the age of 77; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw grew up near Belmont Avenue and
Clifton Avenue in Chicago; his parents were Elmer Grimshaw and
Violet Teppo Grimshaw; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw attended Lane Tech and Lake View
High Schools before serving in the United States Army in
France; after returning to Chicago, he studied at Wright Junior
College; in 1962, he entered the University of Chicago, where
he earned a political science degree; while working at
Chicago's main post office, he met Jacquelyne Lane, whom he
married in 1964; in 1973, he and his wife moved to Greenwood,
where they lived until 2009; and
WHEREAS, After college, Bill Grimshaw taught political
science at the Illinois Institute of Technology for 30 years;
he was also a visiting associate professor at the University of
Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw and his wife were instrumental in
the election of Harold Washington, the city's first black

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mayor, in 1983; the Grimshaws and other campaign workers
studied precincts where voters had rejected other candidates
and targeted those areas with volunteers, campaign literature,
and appearances by future Mayor Washington; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw was the author of the 1995 book,
"Bitter Fruit: Black Politics and the Chicago Machine,
1931-1991", which is still regarding as a classic in the field
in Chicago politics; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw enjoyed breeding Rottweilers;
originally planning to sell them, he became so attached that he
could not bring himself to do so; they eventually found homes
for the dogs, except the matriarch, Jasper, and her strongest
puppy, Bruiser; he also enjoyed Haagen-Dazs Rocky Road ice
cream, reading the works of Raymond Chandler and Elmore
Leonard, talking politics at the Valois Restaurant, spending
summers at the Wisconsin Dells, and spending time with his
family; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw is survived by his wife, Jacquelyne;
his daughter, Kim Grimshaw Bolton; his son, Chris; his brother,
Alan; and four grandchildren; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his

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family and friends, mourn the passing of Bill Grimshaw; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Bill Grimshaw as an expression of
our sympathy.