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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Charleston Mayor Larry Wayne Rennels, who 
4passed away on June 25, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Mayor Rennels was born in Charleston on July 31, 
61947 to Morris E. and Helen E. (nee Snyder) Rennels; he 
7graduated from Charleston High School in 1965 and the Rose 
8Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1969 
9with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering; during his college 
10years, he was a member of ROTC; he married Mary Ann Gibbons on 
11August 24, 1968 in Mattoon; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Mayor Rennels was employed by Motorola, Inc., 
13designing and managing the design of pagers and 2-way radios; 
14during his 11-year tenure with Motorola, he developed, 
15designed, and was issued a patent; he held the position of 
16Product Manager, International Communications Products; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, In 1980, Mayor Rennels and his wife decided to 
18return to Charleston and make it their permanent home; in 1987, 
19he followed in his father's footsteps as owner of Rennels TV & 
20Appliance and was committed to offering the same professional 
21and reliable service; he operated the store until its closing 
22in 2010; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Mayor Rennels became actively involved in the 
2Charleston community; in 1994, he was appointed Chairman of the 
3City of Charleston Alcohol Task Force; in 1997, he was elected 
4to the Charleston City Council; he was a member of the 
5Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, serving 
6as its President in 1998, and was named its Outstanding Citizen 
7of the Year in 2004; he has also served on the Eastern Illinois 
8University President's Cabinet and has been instrumental in 
9fostering better relations with the university as a member of 
10the EIU External Relations Committee; he was a member of the 
11first class of the Citizen's Police Academy, a member of Coles 
12County Crime Stoppers, and a member of the Hilltop Advisory 
13Board; he was a member and past President of the Community 
14Based Youth Service Board, which operated in 7 counties; he was 
15previously a member of the Autism Society; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Mayor Rennels was elected  Mayor of Charleston in 
172013; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Mayor Rennels was a member of Immanuel Lutheran 
19Church in Charleston, serving as a past member of the Board of 
20Directors, as a member of the Board of Elders, as a member of 
21the Properties Committee, and as past President of the 
22congregation; he has also shared his technological expertise 
23assisting with the operation of audio and video equipment and 
 
 
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1imparting his knowledge to others; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Mayor Rennels was preceded in death by his parents 
3and Mary Ann's parents, Frank and Mildred Gibbons; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Mayor Rennels is survived by his wife of 47 years, 
5Mary Ann; their sons, David Rennels and Matthew and wife, Dr. 
6Tasha Rennels; his sister, Marcia Cox and her husband, Mick; 
7his niece, Emily (Bill) Kobler and their children, Addie and 
8Callie; his nephew, Brandon (Staci) Cox and their children, 
9Jackson and Griffin; his stepmother, Crystal Rennels; his aunt, 
10Betty Snyder; and his brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas Gibbons; 
11therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Charleston Mayor Larry Wayne Rennels, and extend our sincere 
15condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
16him; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to  the family of  Mayor Rennels as an expression of 
19our deepest sympathy.