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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Donald James "Don" Sproul of East
4Moline; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Don Sproul was born in Dixon to Clarence and
6Frances (Blimling) Sproul on July 8, 1932; he graduated from
7Dixon High School in 1950, where he participated in football,
8basketball, track, and golf and was a class officer and
9recipient of the American Legion Award; he graduated from
10Western Illinois Teachers College (Western Illinois
11University) in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in education and
12double minor in business; while there, he was a member of the
13Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity and participated in many social and
14intramural activities; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Don Sproul served two years with the United
16States Army, where he spent 16 months in Alaska; he achieved
17the rank of sergeant, and in October 2015, he had the privilege
18of being part of an Honor Flight to Washington D.C.; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Don Sproul worked for John Deere Harvester Works
20in East Moline; he then worked as a sales engineer at Johnson
21Refrigeration (Johnson Mechanical) for nine years; after that,
22he worked for Bliss Eagle Signal as the plant engineer; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Don Sproul joined Black Hawk College as Director
2of Facilities, and in addition to holding this position, he
3worked five years as the director for the hiring of
4non–certified personnel; during his tenure, the construction
5of the Moline campus was completed, and he was instrumental in
6the construction of the Black Hawk East Campus in Kewanee; he
7retired from Black Hawk College in 1996 and worked as a
8substitute teacher; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Don Sproul served on the East Moline Planning and
10Zoning Commission for 50 years, 45 of them as chairman; he was
11recognized as the longest-serving volunteer for the city of
12East Moline at 57 years; he served on the United Township Board
13of Education for over 37 years, serving as president twice; as
14a member of the Illinois Association of School Boards, he
15served as chairman of the Black Hawk Division, which includes
1628 school districts; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Don Sproul was an avid supporter of United
18Township; he and Nancy were seen at almost every scholastic,
19music, and sporting event; he was also chairman of the East
20Moline Pool Board for 10 years; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Don Sproul was a member of the First Presbyterian
22Church in East Moline; he was a former member of the Elks Club,

 

 

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1where he and Nancy enjoyed going for dinner and dancing on
2Saturday nights; he was a member of the East Moline Silvis
3Rotary Club and the American Legion; he was past president of
4the East Moline-Silvis Jaycees and a past member of the Willow
5Springs Swimming Club, where he served on the board; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Don Sproul received the Denny Jacobs Public
7Servant Award in 1996 in recognition of his long-standing
8commitment to the community; for his entire life, he was a
9dedicated community servant and gave freely of his time and
10talents, working to make his community a better place to live
11for all; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Don Sproul and Nancy were avid fans of the
13Chicago Cubs; they traveled to Arizona for Spring Training and
14to Wrigley Field three to four times a season; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Don Sproul took great joy in his children's and
16grandchildren's academic achievements and sports activities;
17although usually not talkative, he could give hilarious
18one-liners; he loved golf, playing poker, and traveling with
19Nancy for many years; for 10 years, they wintered in Texas and
20eight in Florida; they enjoyed entertaining, and their home
21was always a welcoming place, overflowing with good times; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Don Sproul lived in his home for 48 years before

 

 

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1moving to Summit Ridge Condos, where he served as treasurer
2and as board president; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Don Sproul was the husband of 63 years of Nancy
4(Wallick); the father of children, Betsy and Peter (Beth)
5Sproul; the grandfather of Robert, James, and Peter Jr.; and
6the brother of Robert; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Donald James "Don" Sproul and extend our sincere condolences
10to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
11it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Don Sproul as an expression of our
14deepest sympathy.