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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of James "Jim" Benton of Lake Bluff, who
4passed away on July 11, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Benton was born in Chicago on November 10,
61930; at the age of ten, he moved to Woodstock with his family;
7he graduated from Woodstock High School in 1948; he enlisted in
8the United States Navy in November of 1950 and was assigned to
9the amphibious forces in Little Creek, Virginia; he was
10discharged as a Radioman 2nd Class in August 1954; he had a
11Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education plus 45
12additional hours; he studied at Northern Illinois University,
13the University of Iowa, the University of Oregon, Oregon State
14University, and the University of California at Berkeley; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jim Benton taught at Lake Forest High School for
1637 years; he contributed to the curriculum by introducing Earth
17Science, Zoology, Botany, Biology II, and Advanced Placement
18Biology; he served as science chairman for 22 years; he was
19director of the Computer Assisted Instruction Center for ten
20years and was responsible for ushering LFHS into the MacIntosh
21computer applications age; he also directed the Community
22Education program and instigated a K-Adult computer education
23sequence; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jim Benton's contributions to Lake Forest High
2School extended beyond the classroom; he served as Homecoming
3Director for 20 years, Senior Class Advisor from 1991 until
41993, editor and publisher of the association newsletter, The
5LFEA Shuttle, for 20 years, book store manager for four years,
6advisor of the Pep Club, the Science Club, the Chess Club, and
7the Photo Club, co-chair of the dimensions programs, chief
8negotiator for the LFEA, faculty president of Cum Laude, and
9supplier of countless photographs for school publications as
10well as the athletic wall of fame and performing arts/fine arts
11walls of fame; he wrote Chalkdust in the Trenches, a novel
12about a typical suburban high school; he maintained contact
13with over 100 LFHS faculty and staff alumni through a periodic
14newsletter called Take-a-Break; he built a fully-detailed and
15lighted model of the newly-remodeled LFHS, which is on
16permanent display in the library; he redecorated the Public
17room into a nostalgia/historical center and received the "Most
18Groovy Teacher" award in 1963; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Jim Benton studied the trumpet and sang an
20operatic aria for the 1994 Talent Show; he and his wife, Betty,
21entertained at retirement and nursing homes for ten years; he
22wrote over 100 poems, sang in the Men's Glee Club, spoke
23conversational Italian, and maintained an interest in the
24Italian Renaissance and 19th Century American poets; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jim Benton was preceded in death by his brother,
2Thomas (Gayle) Benton and his sister, Cynthia (Ron) Rasmussen;
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Jim Benton is survived by his wife, Betty; his
5son, Bradley Cristopher Benton; his daughter, Lauren Marie
6Benton Schmanski; his grandsons, Christopher Colton Schmanski
7and Matthew John Schmanski; his brothers, Richard (Louise
8Ganong) Zbinden and John (Jenice) Benton; his sisters, Margery
9Aagaard and Suzanne (Duane) Kiddoo; and many nieces and
10nephews; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13James "Jim" Benton and extend our sincere condolences to his
14family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Jim Benton as an expression of our
18deepest sympathy.