SR0842 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0842 LRB103 39903 MST 70919 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald J. "Ron" Stone of Springfield, who passed away on November 30, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Ron Stone was born in Springfield to Robert G. Sr. and Leona Ellen Bennett Stone on July 29, 1952; he graduated from Glenwood High School in Chatham and received his Bachelor of Arts in Business from Bowling Green State University in 1974; he received his Juris Doctor from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1977 and was admitted to the bar the same year; he married Sheri Lynn Smith in Springfield on March 3, 1990; and

WHEREAS, Ron Stone began working as an assistant district attorney in Springfield after law school; in 1983, he began working at Arco-Alaska's Prudhoe Bay oil production facilities, supplying the Trans-Alaska pipeline as a material logistics coordinator; and

WHEREAS, Ron Stone started private practice with the law office of Stratton, Stone, Kopec & Sturm, specializing in the field of civil and criminal litigation, labor and employment law, and administrative law; he later started his own firm, Stone Law Office, and retired in 2021 with over 45 years of practice; one highlight of his career was representing the Springfield Police Benevolent and Protective Association Unit 5, the union that represents city police officers, for more than 35 years; and

WHEREAS, Ron Stone played right wing on the ice hockey team while at Bowling Green State University; he also played for the Pekin Stars and the Peoria Blades before embarking on a semi-professional Continental Hockey League run as #17 and spending time intermittently as captain and coach of the Springfield Kings from 1976 to 1983, culminating as the 1980 Walmar Cup champions; and

WHEREAS, Ron Stone enjoyed playing hockey weekly with the Nelson Center Men's League, classic rock, yardwork, making friends with the neighborhood squirrels, convertibles, boating, grilling, cliff diving, hanging at the Elks Club, water skiing, snow skiing, softball at the Anchor Boat Club, driveway basketball, and making his famous popcorn; he loved teasing his nieces and nephews who referred to him as Uncle Barney, watching them play sports, and spending time with Sheri and their family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Ron Stone was preceded in death by his parents; his twin siblings, Ellen Lee Stone and Richard Allen Stone; his brother, Robert G. Stone Jr.; and his sister-in-law, Jacqueline Clemens Stone; and

WHEREAS, Ron Stone is survived by his wife, Sheri; his brother, Rik (Tammy) Stone; his nieces, Heather (James) Stone, Morgan (Brendan) Padget, and Dakota Stone (Nick Janiszewski); his nephews, Justin (Kristy) Stone and Trevor (Melanie) Stone; his great-nephews, Alec Stone and Michael Loureiro; his sister-in-law, Marilee Tolan Stone; and his cousins; 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 Ronald J. "Ron" Stone 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 Ron Stone as an expression of our deepest sympathy.