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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to commemorate the 125th anniversary of
4the birth of Elzie Crisler Segar; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Elzie Segar was born in Chester on December 8,
61894; he spent his formative years in Chester, soaking up the
7traditions, values, and relationships that would later
8influence the fantasy comic kingdom he would create; and
 
9    WHEREAS, On December 19, 1919, Elzie Segar published his
10first installment of Thimble Theatre, a cartoon series that
11featured the comic antics of siblings Olive and Castor Oyl,
12their parents, and Olive's boyfriend, Ham Gravy; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Elzie Segar introduced a salty, one-eyed mariner,
14Popeye, to the Thimble Theatre cast on January 17, 1929, and
15the fighting sailor would become the world's earliest
16superhuman hero, garnering coveted Guinness World Records for
17the most-produced cartoons and the longest-syndicated series;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Elzie Segar's Popeye became so popular that he
20entered TV Guide's listing of the Top 20 Greatest Cartoon
21Characters of All Time and is endeared by millions of fans

 

 

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1across the globe; and
 
2    WHEREAS, When he eventually took over the original Thimble
3Theatre comic strip, Elzie Segar's Popeye secured an iconic
4stature with an international fandom by charming young and old
5alike and helping to introduce many new characters, including
6Wimpy, Bluto, Sea Hag, and hundreds more; many of the eccentric
7characters were inspired by his real-life hometown residents;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Elzie Segar continued to create additional,
10exciting, comic personas throughout the rest of his life; The
11Popeye & Friends Character Trail in Chester was developed to
12celebrate these entertaining personalities; granite statues of
13Popeye characters were placed in various areas throughout
14Chester to pay tribute to Segar's imagination and to his roots;
15the Character Trail continues to draw thousands of fans and
16tourists from around the world and is a testimony to the
17enduring popularity of his achievement; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Popeye & Friends Character Trail is a work in
19progress and currently has 24 statues; on the 125th anniversary
20of his birth, a life-size granite statue of Segar, dressed like
21his inspiration, Sherlock Homes, will be erected; and
 
22    WHEREAS, The City of Chester and the people who have

 

 

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1created, developed, and financially supported the Character
2Trail's goal to assure that Elzie Segar and his masterpieces
3will not be forgotten have demonstrated their devotion to home,
4county, and State; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we commemorate the 125th anniversary of the birth of Elzie C.
8Segar and the 100th anniversary of his creation of Thimble
9Theater and congratulate The Popeye & Friends Character Trail
10for its resolve in honoring the endeavors of a prominent
11Illinois artist, its dedication to educating the public about
12the comic creations that are so much a part of the State's
13history, and its successful promotion of the local ties with
14Popeye, which bring thousands of tourists to the region
15annually; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17presented to the City of Chester and Michael W. McClure,
18creator and coordinator of the Popeye & Friends Character
19Trail, as an expression of our esteem and respect.