SR0592 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0592 LRB102 21043 MST 29980 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Russ Slinkard, who passed away on April 25, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard was born on the family farm in Jackson, Missouri to Marvin and Mariam Slinkard on May 20, 1937; he earned his Bachelor of Arts from MacMurray College in Jacksonville in 1960; he then graduated from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston in 1963 with a Master of Divinity degree; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard spent approximately 12 years as a pastor in the Methodist Church before entering the business world; he joined the Illinois Bell Telephone Company in 1969 and retired in 1995 when the company was known as Ameritech; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard became President/CEO of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce, a position that he loved and held for 19 years; upon his retirement and to recognize his dedication to the Joliet Community, a plaque renaming the building in his honor was placed in the front of the Russ Slinkard Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Office Building; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard spent many hours volunteering for various organizations, including the United Way of Will County, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Will County CED, Junior Achievement, Silver Cross Hospital, Joliet Junior College, Rotary International, University of St. Francis, Easter Seals, Boy Scouts, Rialto Board, YMCA, and First Midwest Bank; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard received numerous recognitions, including The Friends of Education Award, the George Sangmeister Medal of Excellence, Joliet Hall of Pride, the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, the Roger Osman Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service, and the De LaSalle Award from Lewis University; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinal, a trait he passed to his children; his most important roles in life were that of a husband, father, grandfather, sibling, and son, and family was everything to him; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Donald; and

WHEREAS, Russ Slinkard is survived by his wife of 33 years, Stella; his children, Bryan (Robin), Lisa (Tim) Sidles, Regina (Greg) Orasco, Shannen (Ubaldo) Rojas, and Shelby (Chad) McCarty; his grandchildren, Matt and Dan Sidles, Morgan Orasco, Maddy Slinkard, Lillian Ballinger, Alexis Libbert, Alaina Klempke, Cyrus Angel, Reyna, Stella, and Aden Guzman, and Nathan Rojas; his brother, Bill (Charlotte); his sisters, Janis (Lewis) Ticer and Robyn (Lynn) Morton; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Russ Slinkard 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 Russ Slinkard as an expression of our deepest sympathy.