Say What?! The Little Caesars Founder Reportedly Paid Rosa Parks' Rent Back In The Day

Considering that a billionaire-turned-dictator has been dominating the news cycle as of late, it would be nice to hear something positive about about the rich and the powerful, don't you think? 

Well, try this on for size. Back in 1994 when civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks was robbed and assaulted in her home, Little Caesar's founder, owner, and CEO Mike Ilitch quietly paid the rent on her new place until her death in 2005. 

The news of his philanthropy is bittersweet as it comes on the heels of his own demise. The 87-year old businessman, Detroit real estate tycoon, and owner of the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers passed away on February 10.

As reported by Sports Business Daily, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Damon Keith made a call to real estate developer Alfred Taubman for help finding Parks a safer place to live. He owned Riverfront Apartments and vowed to secure the best home he had available for her. Ilitch read about their plans for the civil rights icon and called Judge Keith. He offered to pay for her housing indefinitely.

Judge Keith can vouch for Ilitch's commitment to Parks as he was the executor over the trust established for her housing. He reflected on one of the first checks that Ilitch wrote: "It’s for $2,000, dated November the first, 1994. It’s from Little Caesars Enterprises to Riverfront Apartments, and I know it was just one of many," said Keith. "It’s important that people know what Mr. Mike Ilitch did for Ms. Rosa Parks because it’s symbolic of what he has always done for the people of our city."

Though his detractors would tell you that his real estate dealings were shrewd at best and his income reporting was questionable, Keith lauded the mogul's contributions back in 2014 saying, "Mike Ilitch is totally committed to Detroit," Keith said. "He brought the Little Caesars corporate offices here. He saved the Fox Theatre. He built Comerica Park, and he kept the hockey and baseball teams thriving here when times were tough. But of all the incredible things he has done for the city, people should know what he did for Rosa Parks."

Whatever the motivation, Rosa Parks was a living piece of 20th century American history and deserved to live out her final days with dignity--not in some apartment being beaten and robbed. The collective efforts of these three men should be applauded.