HR0976 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0976 LRB099 16507 MST 42588 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Stuart "Stu" Wright of Pinckneyville, who passed away on December 20, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Stuart Wright was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on October 12, 1941 and married Sharon Kay Pursell on June 24, 1961; and

WHEREAS, Stuart Wright was deeply involved in the Pinckneyville community, serving as a board member on the Pinckneyville Community High School Board; he was instrumental in the foundation of high school shooting sports in the State of Illinois and coached the Pinckneyville High School Shooting Sports Team to a national championship; he also coached the Pinckneyville Optimist Swim Team and helped in the founding of the Pinckneyville Band Parents Organization; and

WHEREAS, Stuart Wright was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and Amateur Trapshooting Association; he was heavily involved with the gun industry through his gunsmithing at Wright's Inc. and was a world-renowned Winchester Model 12 expert; and

WHEREAS, Stuart Wright started his gunsmithing company out of his garage in the 1970s while working full time as a coal miner and electrician, spending 25 years at CONSOL Energy Burning Star #4; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Stuart Wright started his high school coaching career when he was asked to coach the school's FFA squad, growing the squad from just 5 shooters to 32 shooters, participating in trap, skeet, and sporting clays; and

WHEREAS, Stuart Wright's motto was "Fun With a Gun"; he led his team to national prominence by winning first place high overall at the Scholastic Clay Target Program Nationals in July of 2015; he taught his students leadership skills, how to act safely, and how to be respectful of other teams and fellow team members; and

WHEREAS, As head coach, Stuart Wright believed that every child that wanted to shoot should be given the opportunity, and that the team would support them in that endeavor regardless of financial situation; and

WHEREAS, On February 6 2015, Stuart Wright learned he had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, but he never let it deter his coaching, getting out of bed after chemotherapy to make it to the World Shooting & Recreational Complex to watch his kids compete in the Scholastic Clay Target Program championships; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Stuart "Stu" Wright, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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