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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Benjamin Hooker Watts of Champaign, who
4passed away on September 19, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was born in Urbana to Robert Allan
6and Emily Stipes Watts on March 1, 1962; he graduated from
7Champaign Central High School and Dartmouth College; he played
8football for both schools; he later graduated from the
9University of Michigan School of Law; he married Judith Diane
10Argentieri on October 25, 1997; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts began practicing law with Gardner
12Carton & Douglas in Chicago; he then returned to Champaign and
13joined Stipes Publishing, where he was a partner in the
14publishing business; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was active in the Champaign-Urbana
16community and served on the Crisis Nursery Board of Directors
17and the Alzheimer's Association of Champaign County Board of
18Directors; he was a season ticket holder for Illini sports, as
19well as an avid supporter of the University of Illinois
20Division of Intercollegiate Athletes and the University of
21Illinois Library; he was a member of the University of Illinois
22Foundation; he also supported his alma mater, Dartmouth, and

 

 

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1his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, where he had served as
2president; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was a devoted husband, father, son,
4uncle, cousin, and friend, who spent most of his free time with
5his wife and children; he was always present at his children's
6activities; he coached his son's Little League teams, including
7Peanut, Farm, and Kuhn's in the American League; the Kuhn's
8team advanced to the Little League Semi-Finals in 2014; he also
9coached several of his children's YMCA and Champaign Park
10District basketball teams; he led his daughter's seventh and
11eighth grade YMCA team to the league championship in 2013; his
12other passion was gardening; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was preceded in death by his
14father; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts is survived by his mother; his
16wife, Judith; his daughter, Olivia; his son, Samuel; his
17brothers, Edward and Thomas; and his numerous nieces and
18nephews; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
21Benjamin Hooker Watts, and extend our sincere condolences to
22his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it

 

 

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1further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Benjamin Watts as an expression of
4our deepest sympathy.