HR 219: Honoring the Fiftieth Anniversary of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy and the lives lost.
The resolution honors the 50th anniversary of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy, which resulted in the loss of 29 lives, including 7 from Northwest Ohio. The ship, known as the "Pride of the American Side" and the "Toledo Express", was a significant vessel in the Great Lakes maritime shipping industry. Its sinking on November 10, 1975, was immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot's song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". The resolution recognizes the ship and its crew's valiant service and sacrifice, and the legacy of the victims will be remembered by the families and communities affected.
| Aug. 13, 2025 | Adopted |
As Adopted by the House
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
H. R. No. 219
2025-2026
Representative Williams
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the Fiftieth Anniversary of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy and the lives lost.
WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 136th 1General Assembly of Ohio commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the 2S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy and the lives lost, including seven 3from Northwest Ohio; and
WHEREAS, In its day, the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest 5ship on the Great Lakes. Based out of Cleveland under a permanent 6charter of the Oglebay Norton Company, the vessel served several port 7cities along the Great Lakes, and during its lifespan, it set six 8international hauling records and traveled the equivalent of forty- 9four times around the world, earning such nicknames as the "Pride of 10the American Side" and the "Toledo Express"; and
WHEREAS, On November 10, 1975, the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald sank in 12a storm on Lake Superior with the loss of all twenty-nine crew 13members, seven of whom were from Northwest Ohio, including Captain 14Ernest McSorley of Ottawa Hills. The ship was the pride of America's 15and Ohio's maritime shipping industry, and its loss claimed the lives 16of several of our state's most skilled nautical crewmen; and
WHEREAS, The Fiftieth Anniversary of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald 18tragedy is a somber milestone. The tale of the tragedy was 19immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot's song "The Wreck of the Edmund 20Fitzgerald," and the valiant service and sacrifice of the ship and its 21crew have earned them a hallowed place in Ohio's maritime history, a 22legacy that will long be remembered by the families of the victims and 23the communities served by the Fitzgerald; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the House of Representatives of 25the 136th General Assembly of Ohio, in adopting this Resolution, .....
recognize the Fiftieth Anniversary of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald 27tragedy and the lives lost; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit 29duly authenticated copies of this Resolution to the news media of 30Ohio.