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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Craig Crowl Hart, who passed away on
4August 27, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Craig Hart was born to Fred J. Hart and Katheryne
6Crowl Hart in Streator on January 11, 1934; he graduated from
7Streator High School in 1952, where he played basketball and
8football; he studied Accounting at the University of Illinois,
9where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Naval
10ROTC program; he was commissioned as a lieutenant junior grade
11in the U.S. Navy, serving on active duty at the Norfolk Naval
12Air Station for two years; he later earned his MBA from the
13University of Illinois; he married Alice Bower in Bloomington
14in 1956; he later married Jane Heggie Major in 1992; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Craig Hart began his career at an accounting firm
16in Bloomington in 1958; he then joined the Bloomington Federal
17Savings and Loan Association; he was named president of
18Bloomington Federal, later Champion Federal, in 1971; he led
19the company for 21 years, overseeing its growth into the
20largest financial institution in downstate Illinois; he
21retired from banking in 1992; he then focused his time and
22energy on building the senior care companies Heritage
23Enterprises, now Heritage Health, and Green Tree Pharmacy,

 

 

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1which he and his partners founded in 1960; and
 
2    WHEREAS, During his banking career, Craig Hart belonged to
3various trade association groups, including the U.S. League of
4Savings Institutions, the Illinois League of Savings
5Institutions, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, and the
6Federal Savings and Loan Council of Illinois; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Craig Hart held several leadership roles across a
8number of organizations, including the Bloomington-Normal
9Jaycees, the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, the Commerce
10Unit of the United Way of McLean County, the Bloomington
11Unlimited Downtown Development Committee, the McLean County
12Art Association, the Bloomington Country Club, State Farm
13Bank, the McLean County Historical Society, the University of
14Illinois College of Commerce Advisory Council, the Illinois
15State University Business Advisory Council, and the Illinois
16State University Foundation; he dedicated his time to Illinois
17Wesleyan University for 24 years, culminating in him serving
18as president of the Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2005; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Craig Hart was named the second most influential
20person in McLean County by Bloomington's WJBC radio station
21and became the namesake of the Hart Career Center at Illinois
22Wesleyan University; he was also honored as a Significant Sig,
23elected to Who's Who in Business, and named a 2017 History

 

 

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1Maker by the McLean County Historical Society; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Craig Hart was a loyal and true friend; he was a
3lifelong and passionate supporter of the Fighting Illini, the
4St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago Bears; he enjoyed
5spending time at his homes at Lake Bloomington and in the
6Arizona desert and at almost any golf course; he will be
7remembered for being his family's staunchest supporter; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Craig Hart was preceded in death by his parents;
9his brother, Bruce Hart; his daughters, Mollie Hart and
10Allison Hart; and his stepdaughter, Laura Major Burdick; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Craig Hart is survived by his wife, Jane; his
12sons, Bruce (Nadine) Hart, Brian (Lora Hall) Hart, and
13Benjamin Hart; his sister, Nan (Jerry) Westwood; his
14grandchildren, Chase Hart, Michael Hart, Helene Hart, Lauren
15Hart, and Alex Hart; and his nieces and nephews, Todd
16(Shannon) Hart, Leslie (Van) Friederich, Allan (Kim) Hart,
17Cara (Rex) McCrary, and Heather Jeter; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
20Craig Crowl Hart and extend our sincere condolences to his
21family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
22further
 

 

 

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