Illinois' two senators took time out of the Senate's congested late-session schedule to honor legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton.Along with senators from Payton's home state of Mississippi, Illinois' Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin and Republican Sen. Peter Fitzgerald introduced a resolution that paid tribute to Payton and sent condolences to his family.
"Walter Payton will always be remembered as a true gentleman with a heart full of genuine and active concern for others," the Senate resolution said.
After his 1987 retirement, "Payton continued to touch the lives of both his fellow Chicagoans and citizens of his native state of Mississippi, as a businessman and community leader," it also said.
Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about his admiration for Payton's character.
"The one thing that was most amazing about Walter Payton was not the fact he was such a great rusher ... making moves which no one could understand how he pulled off," Durbin said. "But after being tackled and down on the ground, hit as hard as could be, he would reach over and pull up the tackler and help him back on his feet."
Fitzgerald noted a number of Payton's achievements on the gridiron and highlighted the football star's work with Chicago-area children.
"Walter Payton was truly an American hero in every sense of the term," the Republican from Inverness said. "He died tragically at age 45, but his legacy will live in our hearts and minds forever. ... Sweetness, we will miss you."
