SR0482 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0482 LRB093 14495 HSS 40873 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were deeply saddened to learn of the death of State Senator Stanley B. Weaver on November 11, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Stan devoted his life to public service for nearly 45 years; and

WHEREAS, He served as Mayor of Urbana from May 1957 to January 1969; and

WHEREAS, He served in the Illinois Senate from 1970 to 2002, after one term in the House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, He was named to the newly-created position of Senate Majority Leader in 1997, after serving as Assistant Senate Leader for 22 years; and

WHEREAS, As a lawmaker, Stan's priorities were always those of the people he represented - quality education, agriculture, economic development, and conservation; and

WHEREAS, He was a strong advocate for the University of Illinois, helping it become one of the best institutions of higher education in the nation; and

WHEREAS, When Senator Weaver rose to speak in the Senate, people recognized his command of the issues - and listened; and

WHEREAS, He was well known for his skills in bringing people to the table, both to forge compromises in legislative stalemates and to play poker with his friends and colleagues after the work of the day was done; and

WHEREAS, Stan was held in the highest esteem by his colleagues and constituents from both political parties; and

WHEREAS, Stan Weaver was the unquestioned dean of the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, Stan Weaver was born May 23, 1925, in Harrisburg, graduated from Urbana public schools, attended Michigan State College and the University of Illinois, and graduated from the Indiana College of Mortuary Science; and

WHEREAS, He served in the Army Air Force during World War II in the Southwest Pacific Theater, earning five battle stars; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the Air Force crew that flew peace delegates to Tokyo, Japan, to the ceremonies ending the war; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion; and

WHEREAS, He was a mortician by trade and owned the Weaver Memorial Chapel funeral home, later joining with the former Champaign County Coroner Tom Henderson to operate the Weaver-Henderson Funeral Home in Urbana; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as Mayor of Urbana, a new city building and Lincoln Square, one of the first indoor shopping malls in downstate Illinois, were built; and

WHEREAS, He was past president of the Illinois Municipal League; and

WHEREAS, He earned the rare distinction of 33rd Degree Mason with his longtime service with the Masonic Lodge, Danville Consistory; and

WHEREAS, He was a 50-year member of the Mohammed Shrine in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the International Chili Society; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary; and

WHEREAS, He is survived by his son, Blake; his daughter, Sherry; and two granddaughters, Lindsay and Jessica; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the loss of Stan Weaver and his service to the State of Illinois, while at the same time celebrating his legacy of quiet, effective leadership and commitment to the greater good; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this preamble and resolution be presented to the children and grandchildren of our friend, Stan Weaver, with our sincere sympathies and our abiding respect, admiration, and love for their father and grandfather.