093_HR0549
LRB093 14394 HSS 20020 r
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, It is with deepest sorrow that the members of
3 the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois learned
4 of the death of one of our respected former colleagues,
5 Senator Stanley B. Weaver of Urbana, on Tuesday, November 11,
6 2003; and
7 WHEREAS, Stanley B. Weaver was born on May 23, 1925 in
8 Harrisburg to Lana and Ethel Baird Weaver; he attended Urbana
9 High School, where he played football and graduated in 1943;
10 he went on to attend Michigan State University and the
11 University of Illinois, and graduated from the Indiana
12 College of Mortuary Science; he married Mary Smith on June
13 15, 1948 in Urbana; she preceded him in death on February 22,
14 1998; and
15 WHEREAS, Senator Weaver valiantly served his country in
16 the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II in the Pacific,
17 earning five battle stars; he was a member of the crew that
18 flew peace delegates to the Tokyo ceremonies ending the war;
19 and
20 WHEREAS, Stanley Weaver first served one term in the
21 House of Representatives, then represented the citizens of
22 the 52nd District as a member of the Senate from 1970 until
23 2002; he was respectfully known as the dean of the Illinois
24 Senate; and
25 WHEREAS, For 45 years, Senator Weaver devoted his life to
26 public service; he served three terms as Mayor of Urbana from
27 May 1957 to January 1969; he was named to the newly-created
28 position of Senate Majority Leader in 1997, after serving as
29 Assistant Senate Leader for 22 years; he most recently served
30 as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, and was a member
31 of the Senate Executive Committee, Appropriations Committee,
32 and Operations Commission; and
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1 WHEREAS, As a lawmaker, Senator Weaver's priorities were
2 those of the people he represented, including quality
3 education, agriculture, and economic development; he was a
4 strong advocate for the University of Illinois and helped it
5 become one of the best institutions of higher education in
6 the nation; he helped to bring an estimated $1.1 billion
7 worth of construction projects to the University of Illinois;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, When Senator Stanley B. Weaver rose to speak in
10 the Senate, people recognized his command of the issues, and
11 listened; he was held in the highest esteem by his colleagues
12 from both political parties; and
13 WHEREAS, Senator Weaver served as president of the
14 Illinois Municipal League; he was a member of the Veterans of
15 Foreign Wars and American Legion Post 71; he earned the rare
16 distinction of 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason as a result of
17 his long-time service with the Masonic Lodge, Danville
18 Consistory; he was a member of the Mohammed Temple and the
19 International Chili Society; and
20 WHEREAS, Senator Weaver was a member of First
21 Presbyterian Church of Urbana, Urbana Masonic Lodge 157
22 AF&AM, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Danville,
23 and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
24 Ansar Temple; he was also a member of the Illinois Funeral
25 Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors
26 Association, the Urbana Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of
27 Pythias, the Champaign County Republicans, the Urbana Country
28 Club, and the Urbana Elks Club; and
29 WHEREAS, Senator Weaver and the former Champaign County
30 Coroner, Tom Henderson, operated the Weaver-Henderson Funeral
31 Home in Urbana; he enjoyed gardening and yard work; and
32 WHEREAS, The passing of Senator Weaver has been most
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1 deeply felt by those who supported him throughout both his
2 public and private career, especially his son, Blake Weaver;
3 his daughter, Sherry Weaver; his brother, John Weaver; his
4 sister, Jean Dempsey; and his two grandchildren; therefore be
5 it
6 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8 we mourn the passing of Senator Stanley B. Weaver, a man
9 whose continuing example of selfless service will have a
10 permanent place in the memory of associates and friends; and
11 be it further
12 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13 presented to the family of Senator Stanley B. Weaver as an
14 expression of our deepest condolences during their time of
15 bereavement.