Mike Ilitch, 1929-2017

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch sits for a portrait in the dugout at Comerica Park, June 29, 2005. Ilitch, who founded Little Caesars and went on to purchase the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers died, February 10, 2017, at the age of 87.

College Hockey fans pause for a moment of silent reflection on the death of Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesar's Pizza and owner of the Red Wings and Tigers sports franchises. Ilitch was honored with the moment of silence at Joe Louis Arena, home of the Red Wings, during a Michigan vs. Michigan State college hockey game on Friday, February 10, 2017. (David Guralnick, The Detroit News)

The marquee at the Fox Theatre pays tribute to the late Mike Ilitch, who died today, Friday, February 10, 2017. Ilitch was the owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers and founder of Little Caesars Pizza.

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Illitch poses at Comerica Park, June 29, 2005.

Red Wings team owners Mike and Marian Ilitch stand at the Zamboni entrance waiting for the team photo to be taken on the last day of the 2007- 2008 season.

Showing off their Stanley Cup rings are: former coach/adviser Scotty Bowman, left, General Manager Ken Holland, Assistant General Manager Jim Nill, owner Mike Ilitch, and Senior Vice-President/Alternate Governor Jim Devellano at Joe Louis Arena, Sept. 24, 2007.

Mike and Marian Ilitch open the 200th Little Caesar's pizza restaurant June 28 1988. The Ilitches opened their first pizzeria in a Garden City strip mall in 1959.

Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, left, coach Nick Palono and general manager Jimmy Devellano pose in August 1982.

Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, left, and Mike Ilitch at a press conference April 8, 1988.

Mike Ilitch and Marian Ilitch pose in an undated photo.

Marian and Mike Ilitch rode an open car in the Red Wings victory parade near the Fox Theatre in Detroit on June 17, 2002.

Marian and Mike Ilitch ride in the Detroit Red Wings Victory Parade that ran down Woodward, June 17, 2002.

Detroit business mogul Mike Illitch talks about the renovations at Hockeytown Cafe, while standing beside the custom Detroit Red Wings championship motorcycle on display, Oct. 13, 2005.

Detroit business mogul and owner of the Tigers and Red Wings Mike Ilitch talks about the Tigers success from his office inside the Fox Theater building June 22, 2006. Illitch's office overlooks Comerica Park.

Mile Ilitch poses inside his private suite in Comerica Park before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sept. 28, 2006.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland, left, and team owners Mike and Marian Illitch hold the William Harridge Award, which goes to the American League Champions, Oct. 14, 2006.

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch stands with Tigers players Curtis Granderson, Ivan Rodriguez and Brandon Inge after he was the first to receive an American League Championship ring during a pre-game ring ceremony at Comerica Park, April 4, 2007.

Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, center, and wife Marian Ilitch, white coat, pose with friends and family on the ice after the Wings won the 2007-08 Stanley Cup over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, June 4, 2008.

Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch rolls down the parade route in the Wings' Stanley Cup parade down Woodward in Detroit, June 6, 2008.

Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch gives a thumbs up to the crowd with his wife, Marian Ilitch, at the Red Wings Stanley Cup championship celebration at Hart Plaza in Detroit on June 6, 2008.

Mike Ilitch enjoys a slice of Little Caesar's pizza at a 50th anniversary press conference lunch on stage at the Fox April 30, 2009.

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch pumps his fist as he congratulates Tigers ace pitcher Justin Verlander during the clubhouse celebration after the Tigers beat the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game Five of the ALDS to advance to face the Texas Rangers in the ALCS in the Bronx, New York, October 6, 2011.

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch raises his fist before receiving the American League Championship Series trophy with Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski before the Tigers take on the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS at Comerica Park in Detroit on Oct. 18, 2012.

Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Red Wings, was awarded the Joe Louis Brown Bomber Jacket at the Doubletree Hotel in Detroit, June 20, 2012.

Detroit President and General Manager Dave Dombrowski and team owner Mike Ilitch are all smiles as new Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter buttons up his new #48 home jersey during a press conference at Comerica Park in Detroit, November 16, 2012.

A concept rendering of the new Red Wings arena being developed by Ilitch's Olympia Development is shown.

Team owners of the Detroit Red Wings Mike and Marian Ilitch hold the Stanley Cup trophy up over their heads during the Stanley Cup Finals game against the Washington Capitals at the MCI Center in Washington, D. C.. The Red Wings defeated the Capitals 4-1.

Mike Ilitch reacts as he and his wife Marian were honored on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015, for their $40 million gift for the construction of a state-of-the-art business school next to the new Detroit Red Wings arena.

This is an artist's rendering of the Mike Ilitch School of Business, Wayne State University.

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, right, answers a question from the media next to pitcher Jordan Zimmermann during the press conference at the Tiger Club at Comerica Park in Detroit on Nov. 30, 2015.

Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch discusses the season and the upcoming playoffs during an interview in his office at Comerica Park, Sept. 28, 2011.

Mike Ilitch, right, buys the "Dead Things" and makes them the Red Wings again.

Mike Ilitch, the new owner of the Detroit Tigers, proudly displays a jersey presented to him on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1992 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit after he announced he had purchased the team.

Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, right, and Gov. John Engler shake hands with Marian and Mike Ilitch during groundbreaking ceremonies at the site of the new Tigers stadium in Detroit, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 1997.

Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. founder Michael Ilitch (C) hands out a slice of pizza which baked by the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, a mobile pizza kitchen, to an unidentified woman as Deputy Under Secretary of Veteran Affairs Gordon Mansfield (R) looks on in front of the Department of Veterans Affairs building September 17, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Love Kitchen was in town to provide hot pizza meals to homeless people including homeless veterans. Little Caesar's founder Michael Ilitch was awarded with the Secretary's Award Monday by the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize his support of veterans.

Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, right, smiles with his wife Marian, left, during induction ceremonies for the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in Detroit, Tuesday, March 30, 2004.