Dr. Chris Hartnett's Remarkably Accomplished Father, William Hartnett, is Eulogized on the House Floor By U.S. Congressman Todd Rokita

When I interviewed Domain Hall of Fame member Dr. Chris Hartnett for our June 2008 Cover Story profile, Chris spent a good deal of time talking about the influence his father, William Harnett, had on his life. William, a former U.S. Navy officer and FBI agent, was also an attorney who had become one of America's top real estate developers, overseeing such monumental projects as New York's United Nations Plaza, Century City in Los Angeles and his crown jewel - Chicago's Lake Point Tower (the world's largest apartment building at the time it was developed).

This past Monday, July 15, 2013, William Hartnett passed away in Northbrook, Illinois, leaving a remarkable legacy to his wife Lorrayne, his four children, 17 grandchildren and 6 great grand children. 

William Hartnett and his son, Dr. Chris 
Hartnett, on a 2005 trip to Ireland

William Hartnett's many accomplishments were recognized in the United States Congress yesterday (July 18) when Representative Todd Rokita from Indiana took the floor to eulogize his friend and mentor. You can see and hear the Congressman's comments in the video clip below). 

Incidentally, Rep. Rokita, in addition to being a friend of the Hartnett family, has been a friend of the domain industry. In October 2010, before he was elected to Congress, Rokita, then the Indiana Secretary of State, attended the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Miami conference.

William Hartnett (left) with Dr. Chris  Hartnett at the wedding of Chris's  daughter Kristen.	In our 2008 Cover Story about Chris, he had this to say about his father, "He came from a poor family and went into the service, then put himself through law school working as a manual laborer. He learned the value of a dollar and he wanted me to learn that lesson too. Yes, it took me some time to realize it, but he was a great man - the very best father anyone could be blessed with. I love him more than life itself and don’t regret anything he did. He is at the root of all my accomplishments, materially and spiritually." In  that same article, Chris recalled one memory of his dad that especially stuck with him. It was in  2001 when, as detailed in the story, Chris was in the hospital battling an illness that nearly took his life. He remembered getting a boost when his father walked into his hospital room one day with a copy of the Wall Street
Journal that had Chris on the cover. William walked over to the bed and simply said, "I'm proud of you, son." No words could have made Chris feel better. They were words that comforted him then and will no doubt continue to comfort him and his family as they remember William Hartnett and carry on his values and ideals in the years ahead.

(Posted July 19, 2013)