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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Gilbert "Sonny" Virgil Short of Moline,
4who passed away on May 16, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Gilbert Short was born to Gale Gilbert and Alzora
6(Hoskins) Short in Moline on March 12, 1938; he grew up on his
7family's farm in Rock Island County and later in Mercer County
8and graduated from Joy High School in 1956; after graduation,
9Gilbert joined the U.S. Navy; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Gilbert Short farmed near Joy and worked as a
11welder, as well as a sand and gravel truck driver in
12California; in 1968, he founded A-1 Fire Equipment in Moline
13and later moved his business to Davenport, Iowa; he led his
14company for the next 36 years until his retirement from the
15fire protection equipment business in 2004; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Gilbert Short founded Speedway Fire and Rescue, a
17volunteer fire department specializing in motorsports rescue;
18for over 50 years, he worked to expand the organization with
19dozens of professionally trained members working at several
20racetracks around the region nearly every night of the week; he
21was also an active member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as a
22Flotilla Commander along the Mississippi and Rock Rivers; and
 

 

 

SR1216- 2 -LRB101 21569 ECR 72495 r

1    WHEREAS, Gilbert Short was a modest and good man whose
2generosity and kindness touched many people throughout the
3years; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Gilbert Short was preceded in death by his
5parents; his daughter, Kathryn; his son, James; and his
6brother, William; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Gilbert Short is survived by his three children,
8Gilbert Wayne (Lisa), Deborah Short-Rico, and Curtis (Terumi);
9his longtime companion, Kathy Gile; her children, Kari (Kris)
10Maltby, Misty (Aaron) Ganzer, and Joe; his sister, Sandra
11Downing; and his grandchildren, Kristy, Andrea, Kevin, Ramon,
12Gilberto, Vincente, Kelsey, Jessica, Aozora, and Asahi James;
13therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16Gilbert "Sonny" Virgil Short and extend our sincere condolences
17to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
18it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Gilbert Short as an expression of
21our deepest sympathy.