HR0938LRB100 21294 MST 37576 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Richard 
4Odum Hart of Benton, who passed away on March 12, 2018; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was born in Benton to Marion Murphy 
6and Constance (Skinner) Hart on December 13, 1927; he graduated 
7from Benton High School in 1945 and served as a signalman in 
8the U.S. Navy from 1945 through 1946, attaining the rank of 
9Seaman First Class; he graduated from the University of 
10Illinois in 1951 with a bachelor's  degree in liberal arts, 
11majoring in political science and minoring in economics; he 
12married Carolyn Coddington on December 23, 1951; he earned his 
13Juris Doctorate from  Washington University in St. Louis in 1954 
14and was admitted to the Illinois Bar on November 15, 1954;  he 
15was also admitted to Practice Federal Courts in 1954; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was President of the First District 
17Federation of Local Bar Associations in 1962, Director of the 
18Bank of Sesser from 1964-1991, and President of the Franklin 
19County Bar Association from  1964-1965 and 2000-2001; he was a 
20Senior Partner at the law firm of Hart & Hart; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was a charter member of Board of 
22Directors Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. of Illinois from 
 
 
HR0938- 2 -LRB100 21294 MST 37576 r

11964 to 2007 and  past Chairman of the Board of Directors; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was an honorary Life Member of the 
3SIU School of Law Alumni Association and received  the Founders 
4Medal from the  SIU School of Law in March of 1999; he was a 
5founding member and past President of the Franklin County 
6Chapter CASA, a founding Director of the Franklin County 
7Habitat for Humanity, and a  member of the Board of Trustees for 
8the Rend Lake Conservancy District from 2005 to 2007; he was a 
9member of the Benton Rotary Club, B.P.O.E. #1234 (Benton Elks), 
10and the Benton American Legion Post #280; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was a former President of the Benton 
12Civic and Industrial Association, Inc., a former President of 
13the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce, a former member of the 
14Benton Planning Commission and a former member of the Shagbark 
15Girl Scout Council Board of Directors and General Council; he 
16served on the Board of Directors for Southern Illinois 
17Incorporated from 1980 to  1982; he was a former member of the 
18Community Advisory Board of WSIU-TV and WUSI-TV, Carbondale and 
19Olney and a former member of the Board of Directors of 
20WSIU-WUSI Radio and TV; and he was a life member of the SIU 
21Alumni Association and the  University of Illinois Alumni 
22Association;

and
 
23    WHEREAS, Richard Hart served as State Representative for 
 
 
HR0938- 3 -LRB100 21294 MST 37576 r

1the 58th District from 1969 to  1971 and for the 59th District 
2from 1972 to  1978; he was the Democrat Caucus Chairman from 
31977 to 1978; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was admitted to the U.S. Court of 
5Appeals in 1990; he was a member of Franklin County and 
6Illinois State Bar Associations, the  Second Circuit Probate Law 
7Study Group, a  Fellow with the  American College of Trusts and 
8Estates Counsel, and a member of the American Law Institute; 
9and
 
  
10    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was a founding member of the board of 
11directors of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company from 1989 to 
121993, a member of the Board of Governors of the Illinois State 
13Bar Association from 1990 to 1996 where he received the ISBA 
14Board of Governors Award in 1997, and  a member of the Illinois 
15Bar Assembly from 1984 to 1996; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Richard Hart enjoyed playing golf, fishing, and 
17spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchild; he 
18was a member of the First Christian Church of Benton for nearly 
1980 years, where he served as a Trustee and was a former Deacon; 
20and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Richard Hart was preceded in death by his parents; 
22his daughter, Jennifer Hart; and his brother, James O. Hart; 
 
 
HR0938- 4 -LRB100 21294 MST 37576 r

1and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Richard Hart is survived by his wife of 66 years, 
3Carolyn; his  sons, Murphy C. (Jody) and Paul R. (Kim) Hart; his 
4grandchildren, Ryan Hart, Caleb Hart, and Ali (Dallas) Herndon; 
5his great-granddaughter, Ruby Herndon; his niece, Janice 
6(Roger) Legendre; his  nephew, James (Jayna) Hart; and his 
7longtime assistant, Edie (John) Jones; therefore, be it
  
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
9HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
10mourn the passing of Richard Odum Hart, and extend our sincere 
11condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
12him; and be it further
  
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
14presented to  the family of  Richard Hart as an expression of our 
15deepest sympathy.