SR0586 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0586 LRB101 13281 ALS 62123 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James "Jim" Benton of Lake Bluff, who passed away on July 11, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Jim Benton was born in Chicago on November 10, 1930; at the age of ten, he moved to Woodstock with his family; he graduated from Woodstock High School in 1948; he enlisted in the United States Navy in November of 1950 and was assigned to the amphibious forces in Little Creek, Virginia; he was discharged as a Radioman 2nd Class in August 1954; he had a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education plus 45 additional hours; he studied at Northern Illinois University, the University of Iowa, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and the University of California at Berkeley; and

WHEREAS, Jim Benton taught at Lake Forest High School for 37 years; he contributed to the curriculum by introducing Earth Science, Zoology, Botany, Biology II, and Advanced Placement Biology; he served as science chairman for 22 years; he was director of the Computer Assisted Instruction Center for ten years and was responsible for ushering LFHS into the MacIntosh computer applications age; he also directed the Community Education program and instigated a K-Adult computer education sequence; and

WHEREAS, Jim Benton's contributions to Lake Forest High School extended beyond the classroom; he served as Homecoming Director for 20 years, Senior Class Advisor from 1991 until 1993, editor and publisher of the association newsletter, The LFEA Shuttle, for 20 years, book store manager for four years, advisor of the Pep Club, the Science Club, the Chess Club, and the Photo Club, co-chair of the dimensions programs, chief negotiator for the LFEA, faculty president of Cum Laude, and supplier of countless photographs for school publications as well as the athletic wall of fame and performing arts/fine arts walls of fame; he wrote Chalkdust in the Trenches, a novel about a typical suburban high school; he maintained contact with over 100 LFHS faculty and staff alumni through a periodic newsletter called Take-a-Break; he built a fully-detailed and lighted model of the newly-remodeled LFHS, which is on permanent display in the library; he redecorated the Public room into a nostalgia/historical center and received the "Most Groovy Teacher" award in 1963; and

WHEREAS, Jim Benton studied the trumpet and sang an operatic aria for the 1994 Talent Show; he and his wife, Betty, entertained at retirement and nursing homes for ten years; he wrote over 100 poems, sang in the Men's Glee Club, spoke conversational Italian, and maintained an interest in the Italian Renaissance and 19th Century American poets; and

WHEREAS, Jim Benton was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas (Gayle) Benton and his sister, Cynthia (Ron) Rasmussen; and

WHEREAS, Jim Benton is survived by his wife, Betty; his son, Bradley Cristopher Benton; his daughter, Lauren Marie Benton Schmanski; his grandsons, Christopher Colton Schmanski and Matthew John Schmanski; his brothers, Richard (Louise Ganong) Zbinden and John (Jenice) Benton; his sisters, Margery Aagaard and Suzanne (Duane) Kiddoo; and many nieces and nephews; 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 James "Jim" Benton 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 Jim Benton as an expression of our deepest sympathy.