Full Text of SR1884 100th General Assembly
SR1884 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | 3 | | learn of the death of William J. "Bill" Laskey of Crystal Lake, | 4 | | who passed away on June 8, 2018; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Bill Laskey was born in Chicago to William | 6 | | Jennings and Gertrude Laskey on October 3, 1922; he loved music | 7 | | and began working professionally as a jazz saxophonist while | 8 | | still in high school; he served during World War II as a radio | 9 | | operator and was stationed in India; after the war, he studied | 10 | | at the Chicago Conservatory of Music, Roosevelt University, and | 11 | | the University of Illinois, earning degrees in clarinet | 12 | | performance and music education; and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, Bill Laskey became a high school band director, | 14 | | teaching in Rossville and then at Crystal Lake Central High | 15 | | School, where he retired in 1980 after eventually being named | 16 | | as head of the music department; in the 1970s, he expanded and | 17 | | revamped the Crystal Lake marching band program to include | 18 | | summer competitions; under his leadership, the Heraldry Guard, | 19 | | with students from both Central and South High Schools, won | 20 | | numerous competitions and accolades for their marching, | 21 | | innovation, and musicianship; during his tenure, he taught | 22 | | beginning band, symphonic band, jazz band, marching band and | 23 | | music theory and appreciation; and
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Following his retirement from teaching, Bill | 2 | | Laskey pursued many interests including photography, golf, and | 3 | | travel; at the age of 79, he took flying lessons and earned his | 4 | | pilot license; he remained immersed in music, conducting | 5 | | musicals at the Woodstock Opera House and recording several | 6 | | solo CDs that featured him playing jazz standards on the | 7 | | saxophone; and | 8 | | WHEREAS, Bill Laskey was honored to have been chosen as the | 9 | | grand marshal for the 2015 Crystal Lake Independence Day | 10 | | Parade; in recent years, the Crystal Lake Strikers drumline | 11 | | established the William Laskey scholarship, which is awarded | 12 | | each year to aspiring percussion students; and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, Bill Laskey was preceded in death by his parents; | 14 | | his sister, Dorothy Smith; and his wife, Joanne; and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, Bill Laskey is survived by his children, Elizabeth | 16 | | (Bruce) Laskey, John (Liz) Laskey, Mary (Grant) Laskey, and | 17 | | James Laskey, and his dear companion, Betty Jean Stoltze; | 18 | | therefore, be it
| 19 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL | 20 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 21 | | William J. "Bill" Laskey, and extend our sincere condolences to |
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| 1 | | his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it | 2 | | further
| 3 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 4 | | presented to the family of Bill Laskey as an expression of our | 5 | | deepest sympathy.
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