SR0088LRB102 16210 LAW 21589 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Anthony J. "Tony" Leone Jr. of
4Springfield, who passed away on February 3, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. was born in Springfield to Anthony
6J. Leone Sr. and Evelyn Mussato Leone on September 1, 1950; he
7graduated from Griffin High School; he earned his associate
8degree from Springfield College and his bachelor's degree in
9Economics from the University of Illinois at Springfield; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. capped a long career in public
11service as the chief clerk of the Illinois House of
12Representatives between 1981 and 1983; he previously served as
13the assistant clerk of the House between 1979 and 1980, a
14position he held again between 1983 and 1992; he also held
15various positions at the Illinois State Board of Elections and
16the Springfield Election Commission; his first job was as the
17chief clerk of the Sangamon County Election Office; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Following his service to the Illinois House, Tony
19Leone Jr. served as director of the office's Index Department
20under then-Secretary of State George H. Ryan Sr.; he led a
21successful effort to reform and re-write the operational rules
22of the Illinois Lobbyist Registration Act; he served as

 

 

SR0088- 2 -LRB102 16210 LAW 21589 r

1chairman of the State Property Tax Appeal Board between 1990
2and 1992, the Sangamon County Board of Review between 1985 and
31990, and the City of Springfield Rules and Regulations Review
4Commission between 1995 and 1999; he also served as
5vice-chairman of the 1992 Springfield Election Commission
6Advisory Task Force on the Springfield Metropolitan &
7Exposition Auditorium Authority, the Illinois Secretary of
8State Ethics Commission, the Illinois State Museum Board, and
9the Advisory Board of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential
10Library; he served on the State commission that helped select
11the Illinois commemorative quarter design in 2003; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. was a nationally recognized
13innovator in the use of electronic recordkeeping and reporting
14for political campaign financial records and submissions; he
15opened Illinois Campaign Reporting Systems in 1985 and served
16as its president until 1999; he was also the principal of the
17Springfield-based lobbying firm Leone & Associates for many
18years; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. was a well-respected figure in
20Illinois Republican politics for 15 years; he was the
21executive director of the Sangamon County Republican
22Foundation; he served as the assistant treasurer of the
23Illinois Republican State Party for eight years; he was also
24the publisher of party newspaper The Republican for 15 years;

 

 

SR0088- 3 -LRB102 16210 LAW 21589 r

1and
 
2    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. lovingly restored the 125 year old
3Pasfield House, located just west of the State Capitol
4complex, which he opened as a bed and breakfast and a unique
5event facility in 2002; over the years, he hosted a continuous
6stream of dinners, receptions, fundraisers, and events for
7numerous charitable causes, community award presentations,
8book signings, and political campaigns; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. was considered an expert on
10Springfield's early history and a strong proponent of the
11preservation of the city's historic sites; he served on the
12Illinois State Capitol Historic Preservation Advisory Board;
13he produced a photographic calendar that captured the beauty
14of the Illinois State Capitol's architecture in 2010; he was
15recognized by the General Assembly for his efforts to bring
16revitalization to the neighborhood directly west of the
17Illinois State Capitol complex in 2004; he also co-authored
18the book Springfield Celebrated Horseshoe Sandwich; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. was known for being jovial, full
20of life, gracious, and thoughtful; he enjoyed dining with
21friends, leading the table in old stories, self-deprecating
22humor, and laughing; when traveling outside of Springfield, he
23enjoyed visiting New Orleans, Louisiana and Charleston, South

 

 

SR0088- 4 -LRB102 16210 LAW 21589 r

1Carolina; he was admired and loved by many; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. was preceded in death by his
3parents; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Tony Leone Jr. is survived by his significant
5other, Catherine L. "Cathy" Cragoe; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Anthony J. "Tony" Leone Jr. and extend our sincere condolences
9to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
10it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Tony Leone Jr. as an expression of
13our deepest sympathy.