SR0888 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0888 LRB103 40043 MST 71467 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Michael B. "Mike" Bass, who passed away on March 18, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Mike Bass was born to Tom and Bonnie (Learned) Bass in San Jose, California on June 1, 1960; he received his bachelor's degree in political science and MBA degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and

WHEREAS, Mike Bass had a distinguished college athletic career with the Fighting Illini football team, finishing in 1982 as Illinois's all-time leading scorer with 212 points; known as the Illini's "Barefoot Kicker", he led Illinois in scoring in all three seasons of 1980, 1981, and 1982, while also finishing his career as the Illini's season and career field goal record holder by making 24 of 28 field goals in 1982 and 41 field goals during his three-year career; he is still tied for the single-game record by making five field goals that included the game winner with a 46-yard kick on the final play of the game in a 29-28 victory at Wisconsin in 1982; he was selected as a team captain in 1982 when the Illini played in the Liberty Bowl, the school's first bowl appearance since the 1964 Rose Bowl; he earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors and Second-Team All-America recognition his senior year of 1982; he was selected as a member of the Illinois Football All-Century Team in 1990; and

WHEREAS, Mike Bass had a 20-year career with the University of Illinois System and retired in May 2022 as the Special Advisor to the President and Deputy Comptroller; prior to joining the University of Illinois System, he worked in Springfield in the Bureau of the Budget for 15 years, as a member of the Senate Minority Appropriations Staff, as Budget Director for the Department of Public Aid, and as Appropriations Director for the Senate Majority Staff for 10 years; he was an expert on State of Illinois budgets and set high standards for himself and his appropriations staff in their analysis of the State of Illinois budgets; and

WHEREAS, Mike Bass was fiercely loyal to the University of Illinois, his friends, and his family; he will especially be remembered for his great belly laugh and great smile; and

WHEREAS, Mike Bass was preceded in death by his father, Tom, and grandparents, aunts, and uncles; and

WHEREAS, Mike Bass is survived by his mother, Bonnie; his wife, Mona; his son, Tucker; his sister-in-law, Lisa Griffin; his brother, Bob (Paula) Bass; his niece, Sara (James) Andreson and children Zoe, Dean, Samuel; his nephew, Robbie; his brother, David (Igmar) Bass; his stepmother, Michele; and his stepsister, Shana (Jonah) Sonnenshein and children Delilah and Sarina; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Michael B. "Mike" Bass and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Mike Bass as an expression of our deepest sympathy.