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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Larry F. Lewis of Quincy, formerly of
4Ursa, who passed away on May 28, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Larry Lewis was born to Frank William and Imogene
6Harriet (Smith) Lewis in Quincy on February 15, 1938; he
7attended grade schools in Hughes and Ursa and Unity High
8School, and he graduated from Quincy Senior High School in
91956; he attended the University of Illinois, where he was a
10member of Acacia Fraternity, Field & Furrow agronomy club, the
11Marching Illini, and the varsity Men's Glee Club that
12performed at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair; after graduating
13in 1960, he returned to pursue graduate studies; he married
14Nancy Wilson on December 18, 1960, and they had two children,
15Scott and Shawn; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Larry Lewis joined his father in the seed
17business in 1961, adding Lewis Hybrid Seed Corn to the Lewis
18Seed Company portfolio; he expanded Lewis Hybrid seed sales,
19building the Lewis brand to over 100 dealers across five
20states; during his tenure, he traveled extensively to oversee
21contra seasonal seed production and quality assurance work in
22Hawaii, Florida, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Mexico; he was known
23as the visionary leader of Lewis Brands until his retirement

 

 

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1in 2007; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Larry Lewis' life passion was the seed and
3soybean industry; he was a board member and past president of
4the Illinois Crop Improvement Association and Illinois
5Foundation Seeds; he belonged to the American Seed Trade
6Association, where he served on multiple committee assignments
7and as regional vice president and president of the soybean
8division; he was an executive board member with the
9Independent Professional Seed Association and served on the
10initial Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board; following in his
11father's footsteps, he actively participated in the American
12Soybean Association and the United Soybean Board; his passion
13culminated in an Illinois gubernatorial appointment to the
14National Council for Food and Agricultural Research; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Larry Lewis was an active, diligent member of his
16community, with some of his work including the addition of the
17Ursa Town Hall to the national registry; he was a member of the
18Ursa Lions Club and Lions International for over 50 years,
19serving as district governor from 2012 to 2013 and
20representing the organization in South Korea; he was also a
21member of Mendon Masonic Lodge #449, the Quincy Consistory,
22the Ansar Shriners, the High Twelve, the Great River Jazz
23Society, and the Quincy Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Larry Lewis was a faithful lifetime member of the
2Ursa Christian Church, where he served as the church choir
3director for 21 years and led Christmas Cantatas; he loved
4music and shared his talent locally as part of the symphony
5chorus; he also made many homecoming appearances in the
6Marching Illini Alumni band; one of his proudest achievements
7was playing the role of Daddy Warbucks in the Quincy Community
8Theatre's production of Annie; and
 
9    WHEREAS, In his later years, Larry Lewis enjoyed driving
10his Model A car and truck in parades, ballroom dancing,
11attending theater performances, and listening to big band and
12classical music as well as Dixieland jazz; he was a lifetime
13St. Louis Cardinals fan and enjoyed attending and watching
14many games; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Larry Lewis was preceded in death by his parents;
16his former wife; and his life companion and special friend,
17Nona Long; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Larry Lewis is survived by his sons, Scott
19(Julie) Lewis and Shawn (Shaila) Lewis; his grandchildren,
20Nicole (Spencer) Allen, Lauren (Bryan) Bickett, Kyle Lewis,
21Annika Lewis, Grayson Lewis, and Ellie Lewis; and his
22great-grandchildren, Adalyn Allen and Avery Allen; therefore,
23be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Larry F. Lewis and extend our sincere condolences to his
4family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Larry Lewis as an expression of our
8deepest sympathy.