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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is important to recognize those who contributed
3to the betterment of the State of Illinois through public
4service; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was born in Franklin on January 25,
61941; he graduated from Franklin High School in 1959; he served
7in the United States Army until his honorable discharge in
8October of 1969 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil
9Engineering from Bradley University in 1971; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings returned to Morgan County and
11selflessly dedicated his time and unique talents to better his
12community, a place that loved him as much as he loved it; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings worked as a civil engineer and land
14surveyor for over 35 years and excelled as a leader in his
15field; he served as President of the Illinois Professional Land
16Surveyors Association and received the association's A. "Pat"
17Patterson Illinois Land Surveyor of the Year Award in 1999; he
18retired in 2002 as an owner and partner of Benton and
19Associates, a Jacksonville-based engineering firm; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was also prominent in Morgan County
21for his unmatched dedication to volunteer work; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings served as chairman of Corridor 67
2Inc., a group that successfully expanded Route 67 under his
3leadership; his distinctive combination of his knowledge in
4civil engineering and passion for the betterment of his
5community enabled him to envision and implement this project,
6and many others, to an outstanding degree; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was elected to 2 terms as Morgan
8County Commissioner in 2006 and 2012; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was a longtime member of the
10Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, where he received the
11Circle of Excellence Award after volunteering countless hours;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was actively involved on the board
14of directors for the Jacksonville Regional Economic
15Development Corporation, the Passavant Hospital Foundation,
16the Governor Duncan Association, the FBI National Citizens
17Academy Alumni Association, and the West Central Development
18Council; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was a member of the Meredosia and
20Florence Bridge Replacement Citizens Advisory Committees, the
21American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, the Elks

 

 

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1Lodge, the Moose Lodge, Rotary International, the Fraternal
2Order of Eagles, Harmony Masonic Lodge 3 - Ancient Free and
3Accepted Masons, the Scottish Rite-Valley of Springfield, the
4Ansar Shrine, the Rasna Shrine Club, and ROJ Court 20; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings provided graveside military honors
6to his fallen comrades as a member of the Combined Veterans
7Ceremonial Team, a group proud to honor the fallen who have
8helped the living; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings loved reveling in the tranquility of
10the outdoors; he frequented his houseboat at the Alton Marina
11with his family and friends; he enjoyed deepsea fishing and
12hunting; he loved the beauty of the Mississippi River and its
13long history; however, he cherished his family most of all; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was preceded in death by his
15parents, Herman Stanley "Bill" and Mona (nee Mitchell)
16Rawlings; his brother, William "Bill" Rawlings; and his
17sister-in-law, Sherry Peck Rawlings; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings is survived by his wife of 38 years,
19Diane Johnson; his 2 children, Monica (Christopher Ryan)
20Carroll and Michael (Holly) Rawlings; his 3 grandchildren,
21Jackson and Elaine Carroll and Nathanyle Loy; his sister,
22Marilyn (Darrell) Smith; his brother, Robert "Bob" Rawlings;

 

 

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1and several nieces and nephews; and
 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to individuals who dedicated
4their lives in the service of the State of Illinois; therefore,
5be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
8SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of U.S.
9Route 67 between Liberty Road and Interstate 72 near
10Jacksonville as the "Dick Rawlings Memorial Highway"; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
13is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
14State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
15giving notice of the name the "Dick Rawlings Memorial Highway";
16and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Dick Rawlings, the Mayor of
19Jacksonville, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
20Transportation.