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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Russ Slinkard, who passed away on 
4April 25, 2021; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard was born on the family farm in 
6Jackson, Missouri to Marvin and Mariam Slinkard on May 20, 
71937; he earned his Bachelor of Arts from MacMurray College in 
8Jacksonville in 1960; he then graduated from Garrett 
9Theological Seminary in Evanston in 1963 with a Master of 
10Divinity degree; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard spent approximately 12 years as a 
12pastor in the Methodist Church before entering the business 
13world; he joined the Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1969 
14and retired in 1995 when the company was known as Ameritech; 
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard became President/CEO of the Joliet 
17Region Chamber of Commerce, a position that he loved and held 
18for 19 years; upon his retirement and to recognize his 
19dedication to the Joliet Community, a plaque renaming the 
20building in his honor was placed in the front of the Russ 
21Slinkard Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Office Building; 
22and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard spent many hours volunteering for 
2various organizations, including the United Way of Will 
3County, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Will County CED, Junior 
4Achievement, Silver Cross Hospital, Joliet Junior College, 
5Rotary International, University of St. Francis, Easter Seals, 
6Boy Scouts, Rialto Board, YMCA, and First Midwest Bank; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard received numerous recognitions, 
8including The Friends of Education Award, the George 
9Sangmeister Medal of Excellence, Joliet Hall of Pride, the Boy 
10Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, the Roger Osman 
11Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service, and the De LaSalle 
12Award from Lewis University; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard was an avid fan of the St. Louis 
14Cardinal, a trait  he  passed to his children; his most 
15important roles in life were that of a husband, father, 
16grandfather, sibling, and son, and family was everything to 
17him; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard was preceded in death by his 
19parents and his brother, Donald; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard is survived by his wife of 33 
21years, Stella; his children, Bryan (Robin), Lisa (Tim) Sidles, 
 
 
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1Regina (Greg) Orasco, Shannen (Ubaldo) Rojas, and Shelby 
2(Chad) McCarty; his grandchildren, Matt and Dan Sidles, Morgan 
3Orasco, Maddy Slinkard, Lillian Ballinger, Alexis Libbert, 
4Alaina Klempke, Cyrus Angel, Reyna, Stella, and Aden Guzman, 
5and Nathan Rojas; his brother, Bill (Charlotte); his sisters, 
6Janis (Lewis) Ticer and Robyn (Lynn) Morton; and numerous 
7nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
  
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
10Russ Slinkard and extend our sincere condolences to his 
11family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
12further
  
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
14presented to  the family of  Russ Slinkard as an expression of 
15our deepest sympathy.