On October 5, 2023, at the age of 80 Dick Butkus passed away and was born in Chicago and played his entire football career in his home state of Illinois, which began at Chicago Vocational High School. He was a linebacker and a center for the Illinois Fighting Illini. He was a twice consensus All-American, and he led the Illini to a Rose Bowl victory in 1963 and was deemed the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference. He was named college football’s Lineman of the Year in 1964. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
Who was Dick Butkus’ mother Emma Goodoff Butkus?
Dick Butkus was born as the last child to Emma Goodoff Butkus his mother. Though much is not known about her, she was known to have worked 50 hours a week at a laundry and also adopted her husband’s surname to become Emma Goodoff Butkus.
Emma Goodoff was married to John Butkus who was an electrician and worked for the Pullman-Standard railroad car manufacturing company. He was a Lithuanian immigrant to Ellis Island and was fluent in English, therefore he spoke broken English. The couple was blessed with eight children who are Ronald, Donald, David, Alberta, Lenore, John, and Dick.
Source: Ghanafuo.com
