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George Stanley "Mugs" Halas Jr. (September 4, 1925 – December 16, 1979) was an American football executive who was one of five presidents in the history of the Chicago Bears franchise of the National Football League (NFL). He was the son of Bears founder and NFL co-founder George Halas and Minnie Bushing. He went to the Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business. George Jr. joined the Bears' front office in 1950. He became treasurer in 1953 and president of the club in 1963. He also nominally served as general manager until 1974, though his father continued to have the final say on football matters during this time.

George Sr. intended for Mugs to inherit the team upon his death. However, Mugs died on the last day of the 1979 regular season from a sudden heart attack. Upon George Sr.'s death in 1983, Mugs' older sister, Virginia Halas McCaskey, inherited the team.

Mugs was married to Therese until their divorce in 1975. The couple had two children, Christine and Stephen. Following Mugs' death, a legal battle brewed between the three and the Halas-McCaskey family over their inheritance, life insurance payout, and ownership stake. In 1987, Mugs' remains were exhumed and subjected to a second autopsy at the request Therese and her children. The forensic pathologist conducting the autopsy noted that many of Mugs' internal organs, including his heart, lungs, and spinal cord, had been replaced with sawdust. Therese's attorney, William J. Harte, alleged that Mugs' death was not due to natural causes, and thus subject to further insurance payouts. An Illinois appellate court rejected Therese's petition in 1988.

Christine and Stephen attempted to sell their 19.67% equity in the Bears to Judd Malkin and Neil Bluhm of JMB Realty. However, the McCaskey family wished to keep the Bears within the family. They exercised their right of first refusal and matched Malkin and Bluhm's offer. Stephen commented on the situation, "I don't consider myself part of the family since my grandfather died. Not one member of the McCaskeys called to tell me or my sister that he (George Sr.) had died. I found it out on the news... I haven't talked to any of them since my father died." Christine and Stephen unsuccessfully petitioned a judge to block the McCaskey's acquisition. The McCaskey family sold the stake to Chicago-area entrepreneurs Andrew McKenna and Patrick Ryan in 1990.

The George Halas Jr. Sports Center was dedicated on September 2, 1982, on the campus of Loyola University Chicago. He graduated from Loyola in 1949.

References

1. Smith, Coral (January 5, 2023). "Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey turns 100 years old". National Football League. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
2. "GEORGE HALAS JR., 54, DIES IN CHICAGO President of Pro Football's Bears Was Son of Team's Founder". The New York Times. 17 December 1979. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
3. Mayer, Larry. "Mrs. McCaskey 'a source of daily inspiration'". chicagobears.com. Chicago Bears. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
4. ^ "HALAS SETTLEMENT CHANGE REFUSED". Chicago Tribune. 1988-07-19. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
5. Mount, Charles (1987-09-17). "COVER-UP CHARGED IN DEATH OF HALAS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
6. "Removal of Organs Raises Mystery on Death of Halas Heir". The New York Times. 1987-09-06. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
7. "Strange Finding in Halas Autopsy: All Internal Organs Had Been Removed". Los Angeles Times. 1987-09-05. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
8. "A Cook County judge Wednesday approved a request to..." United Press International. 1987-08-05. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
9. "Halases Lose Fight Over Stock". Chicago Tribune. January 27, 1988. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
10. Mitchell, Fredd (June 7, 1990). "Bears 20-Percent Stock Sale Lifts Major Burden". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
11. "GEORGE HALAS JR., 54, DIES IN CHICAGO President of Pro Football's Bears Was Son of Team's Founder". The New York Times. December 17, 1979. Retrieved November 12, 2024.

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