LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Patrick McCaskey no longer watches games from a blanket next to the Bears bench like he did as a child. But as a member of the family that’s owned the franchise since it was founded by his grandfather in 1920, he still has a pretty unique perspective.

“I get to go to the practices and the games, and that’s quite a thrill,” said McCaskey, the grandson of legendary Bears player, coach and owner George Halas. “I had a wonderful childhood and I’m having a wonderful adulthood.”

Patrick McCaskey (far left), growls at the Bears mascot during a game at Wrigley Field as amused brothers Tim and Michael (far right) look on.

A walking Bears encyclopedia who has experienced much of the team’s illustrious history firsthand, McCaskey shares a lifetime worth of stories and anecdotes in the new book, “Bear With Me, A Family History of George Halas and the Chicago Bears” with Mike Sandrolini.

The book includes details about how Halas started the Bears and helped found the NFL; what it was like growing up in a family that lived and breathed Bears football; and a touching tribute to McCaskey’s father, Ed McCaskey, who passed away in 2003.

One of the many anecdotes about Halas shows a soft side that only those close to him knew existed. In 1939, the eight-day-old son of Bears kicker Bob Snyder died suddenly. During a meeting in the coach’s office, Halas handed Snyder a envelope with a $1,000 check inside.

“Snyder was not due a bonus in his contract, so he went back into the office and asked Grandpa why he has given him a $1,000 check,” McCaskey writes in the book. “Grandpa told Snyder to use it in order to take care of the funeral expenses for his son. They both started to cry a bit, and they hugged each other.” 

The book also includes many personal recollections, and McCaskey chuckles when relaying one of his favorite stories about his grandfather.

“At the end of family social gatherings he would give each of his grandchildren $5,” McCaskey said. “At one family gathering I asked him, ‘Can I have the money now?’ My parents were very embarrassed. But he came through with the money. At the next family gathering, I tried to put some money in his pockets, and he liked that too.”

Halas passed away in 1983 at the age of 88.

“He was my grandfather, my godfather and a great friend,” McCaskey said. “I started working for the Bears in 1974, so I had nine years with him before he died, and that was very special.”

McCaskey currently serves as the Bears’ senior director of special projects and is on the team’s board of directors. Over the past 35 years he has also worked as public relations director, director of community involvement and an assistant in the ticket office.

“I feel extremely fortunate,” McCaskey said. “I started going to Bears games when I was five. My brothers and I sat on an Army blanket next to the Bears bench while my grandfather coached. 

"I started going to training camp when I was seven. George Blanda taught us how to kick, Bill George taught us how to play linebacker, Bill Wade taught us how to play quarterback, and that was very special.”