Bill Text: IL SR0888 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Michael B. "Mike" Bass.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-12 - Resolution Adopted [SR0888 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0888-Introduced.html

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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

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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;

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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