SR1216 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1216 LRB101 21569 ECR 72495 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gilbert "Sonny" Virgil Short of Moline, who passed away on May 16, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Short was born to Gale Gilbert and Alzora (Hoskins) Short in Moline on March 12, 1938; he grew up on his family's farm in Rock Island County and later in Mercer County and graduated from Joy High School in 1956; after graduation, Gilbert joined the U.S. Navy; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Short farmed near Joy and worked as a welder, as well as a sand and gravel truck driver in California; in 1968, he founded A-1 Fire Equipment in Moline and later moved his business to Davenport, Iowa; he led his company for the next 36 years until his retirement from the fire protection equipment business in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Short founded Speedway Fire and Rescue, a volunteer fire department specializing in motorsports rescue; for over 50 years, he worked to expand the organization with dozens of professionally trained members working at several racetracks around the region nearly every night of the week; he was also an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as a Flotilla Commander along the Mississippi and Rock Rivers; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Short was a modest and good man whose generosity and kindness touched many people throughout the years; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Short was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Kathryn; his son, James; and his brother, William; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Short is survived by his three children, Gilbert Wayne (Lisa), Deborah Short-Rico, and Curtis (Terumi); his longtime companion, Kathy Gile; her children, Kari (Kris) Maltby, Misty (Aaron) Ganzer, and Joe; his sister, Sandra Downing; and his grandchildren, Kristy, Andrea, Kevin, Ramon, Gilberto, Vincente, Kelsey, Jessica, Aozora, and Asahi James; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Gilbert "Sonny" Virgil Short and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Gilbert Short as an expression of our deepest sympathy.