Virginia McCaki, the chief owner of Chicago beer and the only daughter of the team founder George Halas, died on Thursday, the team announced on Thursday. She was 102 years old.
The family said in a statement, “When we are unhappy, we are relieved to know that Virginia Halas McCaki lived a long, full, faith -filled life and is now with the love of his life on earth,” family Said in a statement. “He guided the bear for four decades and every business decision based on what was best for bears players, coaches, staff and fans.”
McCaki was reluctant from the situation to handle her father’s venture. He protected it more than a touch of passion, patience and father bear’s mythological cruelty and stubbornness. When she removed the eldest son Michael as the president of the team in February 1999 and went out of the family to replace her with Financial Director Ted Philips, she took a tough decision with a style and grace that made her personality Defined.
At the age of 1979, his only brother, George “Mugs” Halas Junior, to suffer a heart attack at the age of 1979, left McCaki as the only heir to the franchise in 1920.
“All the time I was growing up and for a large part of my married life, my brother Mug was there,” he once said. “I used to think,” Thank God for Mug. ” I depended on that. He was an in -charge. I just assumed that he would take over for my father, and it put me in a great position. I will be able to enjoy all the allowances and there is no problem. But God had other plans for all of us. ,
Although she was two years older than her brother, she had no intention to follow her father’s footsteps. In the Board of Directors, he presented the title of Secretary instead of assuming the title of President or Chairman, even though he controlled the voting stock. Her late husband, Ed, who died in 2003, was once said that she quietly called “shots.”
“I don’t look in the headlines,” she said. “I think this is the world of a man as far as Chicago Bear is concerned.”
When the team reached the Super Bowl in the 2006 season after 21 years of absence, McCaki allowed himself to have a rare reflection: “It was a bumpy road very often, how should I sell the team and the Chicago was able to owe should give. Okay, perhaps I’m not able, but Ed and I found people to work. Actually, we found Ted Philips and found (former General Manager) Jerry Angelo and Jerry Angelo (former coach) Lovi Smith and here we are. ,
Although he had the power to influence day-to-day decisions, he preferred the role of a power broker as a cheerleader and acting role. But no one took a big decision without consulting him first.
When the team opened fire to GM Phil Emri and Coach Mark Treestman in December 2014, son and beer president George McCasi “angry with his mother – she is fed up with mediation.”
Always publicly reserved, McCaki did not display her father’s infallibility. ,
Although the team Halas’ investment of $ 100 has increased the assets of a multivilion-dollar, broadly due to the support of league revenue sharing and the support of television contracts, a sales by McCasky will be like a Ford family who is leaving the auto business .
McCaki loved to remember a family quotation: “Either we are the owners of the bear or we are rich Mackasi. We are not rich McCasky who owns the bear. This was repeated more often before the inauguration of the 2003 renovated military sector, which greatly increased the family revenue.
She and her husband picked up a family of 11 – the logical number for a handle at home – in a modest house at des plans. Beer’s Vice President Tim died in 2011 and Michael died of cancer in 2020. In 1994, McCassi went into a ranch home one block. Daughter Anne went to the old house.
“I probably live in the smallest house of any NFL executive, but Ed and what I was comfortable to do,” said McCaki. “It was our lifestyle and now I am able to live with amazing neighbors in that house and Anne is a block away.”
Son Patrick, a beer vice president, once wrote: “My mother always found this entertaining when someone asked her how much help she had. Perhaps this was the reason that my father named his ‘laughing girl’. He did all cooking and washing clothes and housework. Only real time she got a break when she went to the hospital to be another child. ,
Although there was more concession for domestic help in later years, daughter Ellen Tonquest once remembered that it was not until her mother was 75 that “she was a clean woman once every two weeks.”
Son George once remembered: “When we were children, I remember an extension ladder on the second floor. She was pushing 50 and there she was portraying the gutter. He got self -sufficiency from his father. ,
His father wrote in his autobiography, “Halas by Halas”, that he was “shocked” when his first child was a girl, born on January 5, 1923.
“I had accepted – and so (wife) Min – that new arrival George Stanley Hallas will be Jr.,” Halas wrote. “I already had a vision to pull my son into the bear’s thick. We did not even have a girl’s name. ,
Virginia Marion said that after coming up with her brother, she “does not mind anything bad”.
“I was sure that Mug would be very capable of taking care of everything,” he said. “Even after dying, it did not really sink that I could someday be in charge because Dad rebuilt the position of Mug as President and stepped back in the picture. I think I think That neither one of us had to face reality.
Halas was 84 when his son died, and he applied the authority from GM Jim Fink and eventually fired coach Neel Armstrong and hired Mike Ditka in 1982, when recently died.
“More than most people, he considered himself immortal,” McCaki said about her father. “He kept telling me,” I am leaving you under control and I want things to be in good order for you. ”
“And yet I felt there was a gap. I had asked Dad, ‘What would you think about Michael’s coming in bears and working under the gym Fink and will let him learn?’ And he said, ‘Not now, not at this time.’ ,
Ed McCaki had said that the future was mentioned only when Halas “talked about what could happen when God made the mistake. But you do not ask him about it. It is the most of the closure of it. There is a safe method.
A graduate from St. Scolastic High School, Virginia attended the college at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia, where his uncle Walter was a football coach and could keep an eye on him.
When she met Ed, a student in the pen, Halas sent two messengers from NFL – Arthur Runi – owner of future commissioner Burt Bell and Pittsburgh Steellers to investigate them at Campus. After a small conversation, he gave his approval. Roney told Virginia: “And whoever said that recent was an angel?”
Ed and Virginia participated in the 1942 NFL Championship Games with the intention of asking Papa Bear for permission to marry between Beers and Washington. The bears were twice the NFL champion, undefeated and defending the big favorite.
“It was there, I learned how much football meant for the Helus family,” Ed recalled once.
Ed saw Virginia crying, with a bear on the verge of losing 14–6.
“What’s the matter?” He asked. “This is only a football game.”
“No,” Virginia replied. “Do you not realize that my father never allowed to marry if the bears lose?”
Certainly, both were selected on 2 February, Halas’s birthday for their wedding date.
“He was not very happy about this,” said Virginia.
By 1949, McCasky had moved to his Des Plains home, where he raised eight boys and three girls. For a long time, three cot beds adjusted six boys in a room.
McCaki shook the spotlight and always considered matters related to the ownership of bears, even if the team depends on public support.
“With my mother, there is conservative, loyalty, faith in God, a final belief in humans and humility,” said son George.
When she took Michael out of the President’s job and made her the chairman of the board, he admitted that it was difficult.
“Any mother, any wife, likes to appreciate and support her loved one,” she said. “I think Michael has handled it better than me … we will be fine.”
His announcement was one of a few times to speak publicly, and she stayed around after the news conference to answer questions.
After less than a year, he had to appear again on the death of Walter Peetan on 1 November 1999.
She said: “After the death of Brian Piccolo (in 1969), my husband Ed and I promised myself that we would not individually join any player. We were able to follow that resolution until Walter Pater came into our lives. And you all know what difference he made to all of us and NFL. ,
In April 2000, he asked Payon’s widow, Koni, then to allow the name of Bears indoor practice facility in Lake Forest.
As McCaki remained behind the scenes in recent years, his son George was often asked to update the team’s state of mind.
Among the Kovid -19 epidemic in September 2020, she said that she returned to her daily routine to attend the church and work three times a week and plan to participate in that season opener against Detroit Lions. Revealed
“She is always eager to start the season, but to say that she is particularly curious in this season, an understanding,” said George. “I talked to him a few weeks ago and said,” So I take it that you will do whatever you need to participate in sports? ” And she stopped and said, ‘Yes’. In that voice I think you have heard yourself, there is no doubt where she is standing. ,
At the end of the 2021 season, George said that he was advised about the firing of GM Ryan Paes and Coach Matt Negi as a member of the Bears Board and said that his assessment of the season was that he “very, very disappointed Were.”
“Everyone wants to win one for him,” he said. “And we are doing everything we can do.”
During the celebration of her 100th season beer in June 2019, McCaki finally made headlines.
He was Donald E at Rosmont. At the Stephens Convention Center appeared on stage as part of a panel on Beers History and shared the memories of her father and players and coaches that had passed through the organization for years.
“I am still trying to find words for what I still matter to me,” said McCaki. “This has made me even more grateful to what my life is and in which I am in. There are many privileges and allowances and blessings. I can’t just believe that I am here and I am enjoying life at my age, the way I am.