Bears executive McCaskey dead at 83
Tuesday April 08, 2003 4:33 PM
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- Ed McCaskey, a former singer who married George Halas' daughter and went on to become Chicago Bears chairman, died Tuesday. He was 83.
McCaskey was a salesman and a singer in a dance band when he met Virginia Halas, daughter of the Bears' founder. The two married in 1943.
In 1967, McCaskey became vice president and treasurer and held that position for 17 years until Halas' death in 1983, when he became chairman of the board.
"When George died, he wanted Virginia to have control of the team," McCaskey said once. "Money was not important to the Halas family. As long as there was enough to eat on the table, it was fine. All that was important to them was the Bears, the Bears, the Bears."
Though McCaskey turned the team over to his son, Michael, in 1984, he continued to keep a close eye on the Bears. He served on several NFL committees.
It was McCaskey who took the bold step of asking Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo to be roommates in the early 1960s, making the Bears one of the first NFL teams to have interracial roommates.
McCaskey also served as a father figure to many players and led the team's charitable efforts. When Piccolo died, McCaskey helped create the Piccolo Fund, which has raised millions of dollars for cancer research.
When the Bears renamed their indoor practice facility in honor of Walter Payton, McCaskey introduced Payton's widow, Connie, as "someone we think of as one of our daughters."
Above all, McCaskey and his wife loved their team.
It was their decision to turn day-to-day control over to someone outside the family in 1999 when the team's fortunes had continued to decline. They promoted Michael McCaskey to chairman and made Phillips the team president and CEO.
The elder McCaskey then became chairman emeritus.
Though McCaskey gave up his singing career for football, he never lost his love of music. He often entered rooms singing, and he even made a recording of the Bears' theme song, Bear Down, Chicago Bears.
"Ed's leadership and his love of life gave all of us at the Chicago Bears a real sense of family. He will be greatly missed," Ted Phillips, president and chief executive officer of the Bears, said in a statement.
"Ed was a mentor, a sounding board and a trusted confidante not only to me, but to many individuals throughout the National Football League," Phillips added. "My prayers and sympathy are with Virginia and the entire McCaskey family."
McCaskey was born April 27, 1919, and grew up in Lancaster, Pa. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he served in the Army, wining a bronze star and combat infantry badge during World War II.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and 11 children, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Tuesday April 08, 2003 4:33 PM
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- Ed McCaskey, a former singer who married George Halas' daughter and went on to become Chicago Bears chairman, died Tuesday. He was 83.
McCaskey was a salesman and a singer in a dance band when he met Virginia Halas, daughter of the Bears' founder. The two married in 1943.
In 1967, McCaskey became vice president and treasurer and held that position for 17 years until Halas' death in 1983, when he became chairman of the board.
"When George died, he wanted Virginia to have control of the team," McCaskey said once. "Money was not important to the Halas family. As long as there was enough to eat on the table, it was fine. All that was important to them was the Bears, the Bears, the Bears."
Though McCaskey turned the team over to his son, Michael, in 1984, he continued to keep a close eye on the Bears. He served on several NFL committees.
It was McCaskey who took the bold step of asking Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo to be roommates in the early 1960s, making the Bears one of the first NFL teams to have interracial roommates.
McCaskey also served as a father figure to many players and led the team's charitable efforts. When Piccolo died, McCaskey helped create the Piccolo Fund, which has raised millions of dollars for cancer research.
When the Bears renamed their indoor practice facility in honor of Walter Payton, McCaskey introduced Payton's widow, Connie, as "someone we think of as one of our daughters."
Above all, McCaskey and his wife loved their team.
It was their decision to turn day-to-day control over to someone outside the family in 1999 when the team's fortunes had continued to decline. They promoted Michael McCaskey to chairman and made Phillips the team president and CEO.
The elder McCaskey then became chairman emeritus.
Though McCaskey gave up his singing career for football, he never lost his love of music. He often entered rooms singing, and he even made a recording of the Bears' theme song, Bear Down, Chicago Bears.
"Ed's leadership and his love of life gave all of us at the Chicago Bears a real sense of family. He will be greatly missed," Ted Phillips, president and chief executive officer of the Bears, said in a statement.
"Ed was a mentor, a sounding board and a trusted confidante not only to me, but to many individuals throughout the National Football League," Phillips added. "My prayers and sympathy are with Virginia and the entire McCaskey family."
McCaskey was born April 27, 1919, and grew up in Lancaster, Pa. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he served in the Army, wining a bronze star and combat infantry badge during World War II.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and 11 children, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.
