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SR0517 |
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LRB095 18782 GRL 45094 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to |
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| learn of the death of
John Barry McRaith of Lincolnwood, who |
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| passed away on December 20, 2007; and
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| WHEREAS, John Barry McRaith was born on September 4, 1939 |
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| in Louisville, Kentucky and grew up in Evanston; he was |
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| president of Loyola Academy's Class of 1957 and a star golfer, |
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| winning a scholarship to Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio; |
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| during his first year in college, his father died, leading him |
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| to return home to help support his mother and siblings; he took |
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| a job managing Evanston's municipal golf course, working there |
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| for several years; and
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| WHEREAS, In 1969, John Barry McRaith and Loyola Academy |
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| classmate Pat Kearney purchased the Sethness-Greenleaf |
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| Company, where he served as President and CEO for 38 years; due |
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| to Mr. McRaith's vision, personality, charisma, and |
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| leadership, Sethness-Greenleaf grew into an international |
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| company, becoming the supplier of Green River Soda, flavorings |
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| for the Fat Tuesday's restaurant chain and the Arbor Mist line |
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| of wines, and the world famous green dye used in the famous St. |
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| Patrick's Day tradition of dying the Chicago River green; and
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| WHEREAS, John Barry McRaith was well known in the business |
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SR0517 |
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LRB095 18782 GRL 45094 r |
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| world for his unique form of leadership, which focused on a |
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| personal touch with employees and customers; he eschewed the |
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| use of voicemail or e-mail in his various dealings; and
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| WHEREAS, John Barry McRaith was active with several |
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| charities and civic organizations, including the Boys |
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| Hope/Girls Hope, Meet the Wilderness, American Foundation for |
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| Suicide Prevention, Howard Area Community Center, the |
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| Sheffield Neighborhood Association, and Loyola Academy; he |
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| also served as chairman of the board at the Addolorata Villa |
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| Retirement Center; and
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| WHEREAS, John Barry McRaith's passions included his large |
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| family, golfing, and traveling; he was an avid Chicago sports |
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| fan, holding season tickets for the Chicago Bears, Chicago |
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| Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and the Northwestern |
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| Wildcats Football and Basketball for many years; and
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| WHEREAS, John Barry McRaith is survived by his children, |
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| Barry Jr. (Carol), Kevin, Michael, Meaghan (Con) Egan, and |
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| Brigid; his sisters, Mary Ann, Kathleen (Lloyd) Maday, Brigid |
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| (Patrick) Hughes, and Maureen (Jay) McGowan; his brother, |
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| Thomas (Jimmie); and his six grandchildren, Allie, Fiona, |
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| Joseph Barry, Sam, Juliette, and Sean; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL |