SR0824 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0824 LRB094 21542 HSS 59913 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of J.C. Mitchell of Marion on Monday, September 4, 2006; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Marion on February 2, 1925, to Everett Edward and Margaret Helen (Hartman) Mitchell; he was a graduate of Marion High School in 1942; he went on to attend Northwestern University in Chicago for one year; and

WHEREAS, After his first year at Northwestern, he valiantly served our country as a member of the U.S. Air Force during WWII; he served in the European theater as a navigator of troop carriers for the parachutists, flying planes trips into enemy territory; he was honorably discharged with the rank of Second Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, He was united in marriage to Shirley Joanne Walker on August 1, 1945, in St. Louis, Missouri; together, they shared more than 61 years of marriage; and

WHEREAS, After his military discharge, he resumed his education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for one semester; he went on to graduate from the Law School of the University of Illinois Champaign in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, he practiced law with Attorney Gordon Franklin, Attorney Frank Roan, Attorney Tony Armstrong, State Representative John Bradley, and his own son, Bruce Walker Mitchell; and

WHEREAS, After 55 years of practicing law, he tried to semi-retire to Arizona, but law was too much a part of him; he returned to Marion in January of 2005 and resumed practicing with his son, Bruce; and

WHEREAS, Attorney Mitchell was of the Methodist faith and was a member of the Marion First United Methodist Church; he was a member of the College of Trial Lawyers, and at the time of his induction, he was the youngest lawyer ever inducted into the organization; he also was a member of the Illinois Bar Association, the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, and the West Frankfort Country Club for 49 years; he was a former member of the Marion Lions Club and the Marion Elks Club B.P.O.E. No. 800, where he had served as Exalted Ruler; he had also served as the attorney for the Board of the Williamson County Airport Authority and the Marion Park District; and

WHEREAS, He had a deep love for his family and enjoyed playing golf at the Franklin County Country Club with the other members of "The Bolognas"; and

WHEREAS, The passing of J.C. Mitchell has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Shirley Mitchell; his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah Leigh and Keith Wall, and their children, Haley, Nathan, and Ethan; his son, Michael Geoffery Mitchell; his brother and sister-in-law, Hartman and Marilyn Mitchell; his niece, Michelle Mitchell; and his other extended family members and many lifelong friends; he was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Bruce Walker Mitchell on March 24, 2006; his grandsons, Shawn Michael Mitchell and Tyler Keith Wall; and his brother, Charles Mitchell; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of J.C. Mitchell, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.