HR0909 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0909 LRB102 28531 MST 40408 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Dyas Gordon Sr. of Springfield, who passed away on July 22, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gordon was born to William Moss and Ethel Dyas Gordon in Colorado City, Texas on October 15, 1927; he served in World War II and Korea; he married Ruby Jeanne Stokes in Abilene, Texas on September 7, 1949; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gordon spent a few years with the FBI in Washington, D.C. before joining the broadcast industry, becoming a pioneer broadcaster and television personality; he helped build a television station from the ground up in Tupelo, Mississippi in the mid-1950s; he spent the balance of his professional career as a broadcast executive, much of it in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served as vice president and general manager of WCPO-TV for 17 years; during his time in Cincinnati, he also served as the chairman of the Television Board of the National Association of Broadcasters and was honored by the establishment of a City of Hope Robert D. Gordon Medical Research Fellowship; he retired as president and CEO of Boston University Communications, Inc. in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gordon was a champion horseman, marksman, boat enthusiast, and golfer; he approached each hobby with 100% dedication; upon retirement, he became interested in art and began his art education at the Cincinnati Art Academy; he became a member of the Prairie Art Alliance after he and his wife moved to Springfield to be near family in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Gordon; and

WHEREAS, Robert Gordon is survived by his wife of 72 years, Ruby; his sons, Robert (Suzanne) Gordon Jr., Jeffrey (Bette) Gordon, and Gus (Claire) Gordon; his grandchildren, Jesse (Tina) Gordon, Joshua (Meryl) Gordon, Grace (fiancé, Mitchell Koenig) Gordon, Amy (Evan) Himes, John Gordon, Lindsay (Tommy) Dickerson, and Keri (Sean) Quinn; his great-grandchildren, Joshua, Sky, Avery, and River; and his niece, Linda Gordon; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Robert Dyas Gordon Sr. and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Robert Gordon as an expression of our deepest sympathy.