SR0281 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0281 LRB103 32290 MST 61586 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard Ellison Carver, former mayor of Peoria, who passed away on May 5, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver was born in Des Moines, Iowa to Maurice "Red" and Alice (Ellison) Carver on August 28, 1937; he attended the University of Iowa, where he joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity; he graduated from Bradley University in Peoria; he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, attaining the rank of colonel; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver carried on his father's legacy as president of the Carver Lumber Company; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver was a pillar of his community; he had a long career in public service and never let a problem go unsolved; he ran for the city council in his twenties and then spent nearly two decades as Peoria's mayor; during his tenure, he transformed downtown Peoria, building a civic center and ushering in a new University of Illinois medical school campus, among other things; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver's career moved to the national stage by the late 1970s; he was appointed to presidential commissions under both President Carter and President Reagan; he spearheaded a Mayors for Reagan campaign and was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management during the Reagan administration; he was proud of his time at the Pentagon, and he called the Washington, D.C. area home for nearly 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver and his wife had a passion for travel and ventured to nearly every corner of the world, including mainland China, Taiwan, Scandinavia, Russia, and Papua New Guinea; based on his experiences, he developed the opinion that the best cars, beer, coffee, and bread could all be found in Germany, and he helped develop the relationship between Peoria and its German sister city, Friedrichshafen, into a strong and long-lasting bond; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver and Judy moved to Sarasota in 2013 for the sunny weather, and they enjoyed afternoons on the lanai with their corgis, Jackson and Jack; in his retirement, he had two homes on two golf courses, and you could often find him on the green; if you ran into him golfing, you might have overheard some very colorful language alongside his big, booming laugh; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Judith; his parents; and his brother, Stephen Carver; and

WHEREAS, Richard Carver is survived by his children, Kathryn (RJ) Binau, Stephen (Wendy) Carver, Cynthia (Patrick) Smith, and Susan (Mark) Pendergrass; his grandchildren, Caitlin, Shannon, Alexa, Collin, Christopher, Beau, Sheridan, Kevin, and Hannah; and three great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard Ellison Carver, former mayor of Peoria, 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 Richard Carver as an expression of our deepest sympathy.