SR0702 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0702 LRB094 20083 BDD 57671 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were saddened to learn of the death of Joseph "Joe" Agrella, a sports reporter, handicapper, and horse racing writer who spent more than 40 years at the Chicago Sun-Times and its predecessor newspapers; and

WHEREAS, Joe Agrella was born in a mountain village outside of Naples, Italy, and, when he was a child, he and his family moved to Michigan's Upper Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, Joe Agrella's journalism career began in 1931 when, after graduating from high school, he moved to Chicago and began work as a copy boy for the Chicago Daily Times, which later merged with the Chicago Sun; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, Joe Agrella served as a member of the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, As a reporter, Joe Agrella covered many sports, ranging from fishing to professional football, but he soon became known for his expertise in horse racing; he covered Chicago's thoroughbred tracks on a daily basis as well as covering such races as the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes; and

WHEREAS, Despite a personal rule never to bet on a horse himself, Joe Agrella (under his own name and, often, under the pen name, Bud Doble) advised several generations of readers on the art of picking winning horses; and

WHEREAS, Joe Agrella retired from the Chicago Sun-Times in 1978, but he continued writing and handicapping for a national turf magazine until 1994, and he worked as a Chicago racing stringer for the Associated press; and

WHEREAS, The death of Joe Agrella will be deeply felt by those who knew and loved him; he was the beloved husband of Jane Kerwin Agrella; the loving father of Joan (the late Brewster) Parker, Gail (William) Dolan, Pamela (Gabriel) Fernandez, and Candace (Manuel) Martinez; the devoted grandfather of Colleen (Douglas) Smith, Jonathan (Tierney Hunt) Parker, Christopher (Amanda Ripp) Parker, Patrick (Donna) Dolan, Sarah Jane Dolan, Andrew Fernandez, and Emmanuela Joan Martinez; the great-grandfather of 5; the dear brother of Mary Agrella Newsome, Don and Chris Agrella, and Helen Agrella Graetz and the late Americo and Loretta Agrella; the fond uncle of many; and the devoted son of the late Giuseppe and Carmela Agrella; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we express our sorrow at the passing of Joseph "Joe" Agrella, and we offer our heartfelt sympathy to his many family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family with our sincere condolences.