SJ0039 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0039 LRB101 12003 MST 59271 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to those individuals who have given their lives in service to their communities; and

WHEREAS, On March 30, 2019, Illinois State Police Trooper Gerald "Jerry" Wayne Ellis was on duty in his squad car traveling home on Interstate 94 westbound near milepost 16.75 in Green Oaks when a wrong-way driver, who was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes, struck him head on; and

WHEREAS, Trooper Ellis was an 11-year veteran of Illinois State Police District 15 in Downers Grove; and

WHEREAS, Trooper Ellis was born in Macomb on January 10, 1983; he served in the U.S. Army and lived in Antioch with his family; and

WHEREAS, Trooper Ellis was preceded in death by his grandparents and Louis and Keith Ellis and Harry Irvin Nicholson and Geraldine Tournear Kindhart; and

WHEREAS, Trooper Ellis is survived by his wife of nine years, Stacy Ann Voight Ellis; his daughters, Kaylee Ann, and Zoe Olivia Ellis; his parents, Debra Ann Nicholson and Terry (Cindy) Ellis; his brother, Keith Ellis; and his in-laws, Rick and Julie Voight; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of road on Interstate 94 from mile marker 16.50 to mile marker 17 as the "Trooper Gerald W. Ellis Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "Trooper Gerald W. Ellis Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Trooper Ellis and the Chairman of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.