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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Steven L. "Steve" Adams of Bloomington,
4who passed away on May 8, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Steve Adams was born in Bloomington to Kenneth and
6Freda Pomrenke Adams on October 9, 1946; he earned his Bachelor
7of Science in Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan
8University in 1968; he served in the U.S. Army as a Specialist
95th Class with the United Nations Command in Seoul, South Korea
10from 1968 to 1970; he was awarded the Joint Services
11Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service; he completed
12graduate coursework in counseling at Illinois State
13University; he married Sandra "Sandi" Platta on June 3, 1977;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Steve Adams began announcing Municipal League
16baseball games at McCormick Field as a teenager; his
17association with the local sports scene led to a 10-year career
18as a sports writer and an assistant sports editor for The Daily
19Pantagraph; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Steve Adams maintained a professional career at
21Illinois State University that spanned 37 years; he joined the
22Office of Admissions as an assistant to the director in 1976;

 

 

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1four years later, he was named associate director of
2Admissions; he oversaw a departmental transition to Enrollment
3Management, where he became director; he also served as acting
4director of Financial Aid and was an assistant to the provost;
5he was appointed vice president of Student Affairs in 2006;
6following his retirement in 2011, he continued to serve out of
7the president's office for two more years; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Steve Adams was well known as the Voice of the
9Redbirds for over 40 years, using his familiar, rich voice to
10enhance the fan experience in the Redbird Arena for Illinois
11State University men's basketball games and at Hancock Stadium
12for football as the public address announcer; he also announced
13the Illinois High School Association's state championships in
14football for over 20 years and both the boys and girls
15basketball state finals for over 10 years; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Steve Adams received a number of awards during his
17career, including the Neal R. Gamsky Quality of Student Life
18Award from ISU Student Affairs, the Stretch Miller Award for
19service to ISU Athletics, the Joseph F. Warner Golden Redbird
20Award, and the Missouri Valley Conference Most Courageous
21Award; he was recognized by the Illinois Basketball Coaches
22Association Hall of Fame and the University High School Alumni
23Association Pioneer Hall of Fame; the Illinois State Alumni
24Association named him an honorary member; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Steve Adams was known for his commitment and
2dedication to excellence; he was beloved as a boss and admired
3by his colleagues; his caring and nurturing nature contributed
4to his ability to excel during his tenure in Student Affairs at
5Illinois State University; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Steve Adams was preceded in death by his parents;
7his sister, Nancy Adams Tjaden; and his brother-in-law, Donald
8Tjaden; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Steve Adams is survived by his wife, Sandi; his
10daughters, Katie (Ben) Hart and SuzAnne Smithson; his
11grandchildren, Lauren Hart, Alex Hart, Riley Smithson, and
12Cooper Smithson; his niece, Linda (Bob) St. John; and his
13nephew, Scott Tjaden; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16Steven L. "Steve" Adams and extend our sincere condolences to
17his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Steve Adams as an expression of our
21deepest sympathy.