SR1182 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1182 LRB099 15335 MST 39577 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Randall Allan West of Peoria, who passed away on October 30, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Randall West was born in Peoria on May 20, 1929 to Pamella Eva Burnham and Clyde McKinley West; he graduated from White Grade School, where he was co-editor of the school newspaper; in 1947, he graduated from Peoria High School, where he served on the student council for 4 years, was President of the student council, and started the first Peoria High Homecoming, which included a stunt show, a football game with Springfield, and a dance; he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1951, where he was President of the student senate, played drums in the marching band, and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, serving as its President; he was given the honors of Skull and Crescent, Sachem, and MaWaDa; he graduated from the University of Illinois Law School in 1953, serving as President of the law school senior class; he served in the United States Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps and married Mary Jane Corrie on August 23, 1953 in Winchester; and

WHEREAS, Randall West practiced law in Peoria from 1955 to 1999, practicing 6 years with his father until his father's death; he then worked with the firm of Safford, West, Tornow and Jaeger, where his son Stephen also practices; and

WHEREAS, Randall West was President of the Peoria Bar Association and was President and founding member of the Estate Planning Council; as a Peoria Jaycee, he served as Internal Vice-President, was a Key Man, and received the Peoria Jaycees Distinguished Service Award for community service; he was active in the Downtown Kiwanis Club, served as President of the Friendship House Board, was active in Cursillo, and served as a rector and on a prison team; at Common Place, he served on its Board of Directors and then served as a tutor for third and fourth-grade students for 13 years; he received the Spirit of Common Place Award for volunteer service in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Randall West was a lifetime member of First Christian Church of Peoria; he served as Chairman of the Trustees, as Chairman of the Admin. Board, as Chairman of the Cabinet, and as Chairman of the Capital Campaign when the new church was built; he was an author of the Permanent Fund policies; he served as President of the Regional Board of the Christian Church in IL/WI, served as Second Vice Moderator of the National Christian Church Disciples of Christ, was Parliamentarian at many General Assemblies, and served many years on the National Board of the Christian Church Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Randall West and Mary Jane traveled to Colorado, England, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Israel, Russia, China, and Brazil, where they visited their AFS son, Claudio Motta; and

WHEREAS, Randall West was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Owen; and

WHEREAS, Randall West is survived by his wife, Mary; his 3 children, Stephen J. West (Deborah Springhart), David A. (Sarah) West, and Linda (Leslie) Carter; and his granddaughters, Corrie Brite, Kathleen Brite, Grace West, Chloe Fike, and Sophia Fike; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Randall Allan West, 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 Randall West as an expression of our deepest sympathy.