Richard “Dick” Duchossois, October 7, 1921 – January 28, 2022
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The longtime owner of Arlington Park Race Track, Dick Duchossois has died at the age of 100.
While he was best known for his race track, he was also a World War II veteran, philanthropist and businessman who was born in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood.
Duchossois was a member of the “greatest generation” – and like so many of his era, it was war that shaped his life.
He was only 20 years old at military school when he got the call.
Duchossois would go on to lead a unit that was told they would be part of the first wave at Normandy.
“We were lined-up for what we thought was D-Day when we found we weren’t in on the initial invasion, our guys were disturbed. Our guys wanted to be there at first crack,” Duchossois said in a 2019 interview.
Lieutenant Duchossois led his troops onto Utah Beach days after the initial attack. At one point he was shot and feared dead.
He recovered and went back to the front, leading his company through the Battle of Bulge at other assaults.
“I had a job to do. I did the best I could. My men were well training. I brought most of them home. A lot didn’t get killed. Training, discipline, pride, it saved a lot of people,” Duchossois said.
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