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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate were deeply
3 saddened by the death of former State Senator Ralph Dunn who
4 passed away on May 3, 2004; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Senator Dunn lived for 90 years, 22 of which were
6 dedicated to serving the people of Illinois; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He began his career in 1935 hauling lumber for a
8 sawmill and shortly after that was involved in the construction
9 of Illinois Route 127 and was later named President of the
10 Teamsters Local Chapter in 1937 at the age of 21; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Senator Dunn and his two younger brothers worked
12 together in building small business enterprises that included a
13 ready-mix business, a trucking company, a car dealership, a
14 real estate business and a radio station; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Senator Dunn traded $3,000 worth of concrete to
16 purchase his first airplane which crashed, however, he was not
17 deterred from buying a Cessna which he then flew across the
18 State of Illinois to fight for the cause of Cerebral Palsy; and
 
19     WHEREAS, One of his proudest moments was being elected as a
20 delegate to the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention,
21 1969-1970, which he described as a thrill and full of bright
22 people; and
 
23     WHEREAS, He served in the Illinois House of Representatives
24 from 1973 to 1985 and served in the Illinois Senate from 1985
25 to 1995, never losing an election; and
 
26     WHEREAS, As a lawmaker, Senator Dunn's greatest legacy was
27 serving his constituents even when he had to challenge party
28 leaders, being a strong advocate for Southern Illinois

 

 

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1 University and creating the Coal Research Center located at
2 SIU; and
 
3     WHEREAS, A 1995 Murphysboro American editorial
4 commemorated his legacy shortly after he retired from the
5 Illinois Senate by saying that he is what every lawmaker should
6 strive to be, but what few ever become; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He was described by his friends as a gentleman who
8 listened attentively to his constituents regardless of their
9 party affiliation, and was well known to give people coins
10 imprinted with a shamrock and the phrase "Good Luck to You" at
11 events he attended; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In 1997, Southern Illinois University honored
13 Senator Dunn for his many achievements on behalf of the
14 University by renaming its business incubator the
15 Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center; and
 
16     WHEREAS, He sponsored the law requiring major utility
17 companies to install pollution controls so that Illinois'
18 high-sulfur coal could still be utilized; and
 
19     WHEREAS, He helped to pass the legislation to turn Scott
20 Air Force Base into a joint use facility, which has allowed the
21 facility to remain open despite base closures all across the
22 country.
 
23     WHEREAS, He was instrumental in getting State facilities
24 located in Southern Illinois, including the Anna Veterans Home;
25 and
 
26     WHEREAS, He was a strong supporter of public education and
27 he served as Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee
28 and as a member of the Senate Committee on Elementary and
29 Secondary Education; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, He was also a member of the Illinois Council on
2 Aging, the Joint Committee on Minority Student Access, a member
3 of the Illinois Coal Development Board for 20 years and a
4 member of the Board at the DuQuoin State Bank for 20 years; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Senator Dunn never let age interfere with his
6 desire to be physically fit and spent time jogging even while
7 he was in Springfield; and
 
8     WHEREAS, He was very involved in Legislative Fitness Day
9 activities at the Capitol and received an award from the
10 Governor's Council on Health and Physical Fitness for
11 participating in the event for five consecutive years; and
 
12     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his beloved wife,
13 Ellen, and stepson, Danny Dunn; and
 
14     WHEREAS, He is survived by his children, Jerry Dunn,
15 Catherine Sunnquist Florence Dunn-O'Neal, and Janet Johnson;
16 his brother James Dunn; his 12 grandchildren; and his 20
17 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
19 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the loss of
20 Ralph Dunn while at the same recognizing his many
21 accomplishments and legacy of hard work and loyal service to
22 his constituents; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
24 presented to the children and grandchildren of our friend,
25 Ralph Dunn, with our deepest sympathies and our enduring
26 respect, admiration, and love for their father and grandfather.