Chicago Bears principal owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, the daughter of Hall of Fame team founder George Halas, died Thursday. She was 102.
McCaskey was the oldest and longest-tenured owner in all major professional sports in the United States, having inherited the Bears upon her father’s death in 1983.
“While we are sad, we are comforted knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faith-filled life and is now with the love of her life on earth,” her family said. “She guided the Bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans.”
Although she was not involved with the day-to-day operations of the team, McCaskey still had an active role, including having final word on decisions impacting the franchise. Her son, George, has served as Bears chairman since 2011.
George Halas founded the Bears, known first as the Staleys, in 1920. Virginia was born three years later, witnessing eight of the nine championships the team has won — the last of which came in Super Bowl XX, in January 1986.
Halas had intended for his son, George Jr., to inherit the team and made him team president in 1963. But when George Jr. died from a heart attack in 1979, Virginia was left to inherit the franchise.
