[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF MICHAEL AND MARIAN ILITCH, UPON THE 
           50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF LITTLE CEASARS

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                       HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 6, 2009

  Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor and acknowledge 
Michael and Marian Ilitch, entrepreneurs and pillars of the Michigan 
community, upon the 50th anniversary of the founding of Little Caesars.
  On May 8, 1959, fifty years ago, Mike and Marian opened the first 
Little Caesars in Garden City, Michigan, under the name Little Caesars 
Pizza Treat. From this one store, Little Caesars would grow to include 
a pizza empire of many thousands of restaurants through franchising. 
The company eventually became widely known for its famous catchphrase, 
``Pizza! Pizza!'' which was introduced in 1979. The phrase refers to 
two pizzas being offered for the comparable price of a single pizza 
from competitors. In 1998, Little Caesars filled what was then the 
current largest pizza order, filling an order of 13,386 pizzas from the 
VF Corporation of Greensboro, NC. Today, Little Caesars is the largest 
carry-out pizza chain in the world.
  Mike was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1929. He is a first generation 
American of Macedonian descent. A graduate of Cooley High School, Mike 
also served his country in the United States Marine Corps for four 
years. After returning home from the Marine Corps, Mike was offered a 
contract by the Detroit Tigers baseball team and went on to play three 
years in the minor leagues before he was forced to prematurely end his 
promising career due to injury. In 1954 Mike met Marian on a blind date 
arranged by his father. Marian was born and raised in Dearborn, 
Michigan, a daughter of Macedonian immigrants. They were married a year 
later.
  Over the course of their lives together Mike and Marian have expanded 
their business and personal partnership very successfully. Today, the 
family's entities remain privately held. In 1999, the Ilitches 
established Ilitch Holdings, Inc. to provide their various enterprises 
with professional and technical services. These enterprises include 
Little Caesars, the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers, numerous 
property investments in and around Detroit, as well as the MotorCity 
Casino. They have been married for over 50 wonderful years and have 
seven children together: son Christopher Paul Ilitch (born June 1965) 
is CEO and President of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.; daughter Denise D. 
Ilitch (born November 1955) is an attorney and former co-President, 
with her brother, of Ilitch Holdings. Other children are Ronald ``Ron'' 
Tyrus Ilitch (born June 1957), Michael C. Ilitch, Jr., Lisa M. Ilitch 
Murray, Atanas Ilitch (born Thomas Ilitch) and Carole M. Ilitch 
Trepeck. Further, in Stanley Cup history, only 12 women have had their 
names engraved on the trophy including Marian and their three 
daughters.
  The Ilitch family has also established a charitable foundation called 
Ilitch Charities for Children (ICC). Among other things, the ICC 
sponsors Little Caesars AAA Hockey Scholarship to encourage amateur 
sports. The ICC in 2009, so far, has given a total of $50,000 in grants 
to the Detroit Renaissance Foundation ($25,000) and the United Way of 
Southeastern Michigan ($25,000) for innovative community programs, 
demonstrating a broader scope for the charitable organization. Most 
recently, Ilitch Charities presented a total of $200,000 to benefit the 
Greening of Detroit's Conservation Leadership Corps and the Guidance 
Center's Project CEO.
  Madam Speaker for 50 years Little Caesars has stood as a tribute to 
the hard work of Michael and Marian Ilitch and their family. As they 
celebrate this enormous milestone, they personify a legacy of 
excellence, ingenuity, and the irrepressible spirit of the American 
entrepreneur. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Ilitches and recognizing their years of loyal service to our 
community and country.

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