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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
3learn of the death of
Leonard J. Rich of Bloomington, who 
4passed away on February 5, 2011; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich was born on November 2, 1924, in 
6Pontiac; his parents were Silas Henry and Esther Fern Leonard 
7Rich; he married Mary Elizabeth Freed on June 22, 1947, in 
8Gridley; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich graduated from Gridley High School in 
101942; he subsequently attended Bradley University in Peoria, 
11the University of Illinois in Urbana, and the University of 
12Chicago before graduating from the University of 
13Illinois-Chicago Dental School in 1950; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich served his country with pride and 
15distinction as a dental officer in the United States Navy 
16during the Korean War; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich entered private practice in 1950 in 
18Gridley, working there until his retirement in 1997; he also 
19served as head of the dental department for the Department of 
20Corrections for the State of Illinois for 30 years; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich was a member of the First United 
2Church of Gridley, the El Paso Lodge 246 AF & AM, the 
3Bloomington Scottish Rite Bodies, the Gridley American Legion 
4Post 218, and the McLean County Dental Society; he formerly 
5served on the Centrillio Council of Girl Scouts as its 
6fundraising chair; he was a former board member of Woodford 
7County Bank and had served on the Board of Trustees of Eureka 
8College; he was also a former member of the Bloomington Country 
9Club and the Bob O'Link Golf Club at Highland Park; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich was well-known to his community and 
11countless friends as "Doc Rich"; he had attained the rank of 
12Eagle Scout and had served as the announcer for Gridley High 
13School football games for 40 years, where he was known as Mr. 
14Redskin; he was also an avid gardener and golfer; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich and his wife wintered in Perdido Key, 
16Florida, for many years; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich was preceded in death by his parents; 
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Leonard Rich is survived by his wife; his 
20children, T.J. (Sherry) Rich, Ann Rich, and Randy "Rudy" Rich; 
21his grandson, Craig Rich; his extended family; and the man he 
22considered a son, Yoshiaki Ono, DDS, in Japan, who was inspired 
 
 
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1to become a dentist by Doc Rich; therefore, be it
  
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
4his family and friends, the passing of Leonard J. Rich; and be 
5it further
  
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
7presented to the family of Leonard Rich as an expression of our 
8sympathy.