SR0044 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0044 LRB094 10531 CSA 40806 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Edward Michael Phelan of Peoria Heights, the Richwoods Township supervisor, on February 2, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born June 20, 1917 in Peoria to Matthew J. and Bridget Sullivan Phelan; he married Marilyn Lucille "Lou" Williams in May of 1958 in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, He was a World War II Army veteran and a member of the Navy-Marine Club; and

WHEREAS, In addition to being the Richwoods Township supervisor, he was a voter registrar and the state director of the Township Officials Supervisors Division; he was a former president of the Peoria County Township Officials; he was a former member of the Peoria County Board and a former Greater Peoria Airport Authority commissioner; he was a former president and founding member of the Peoples Party of Peoria Heights; and

WHEREAS, He was a printer at the Journal Star for 52 years; he was a past president of Peoria Typographical Local 29, a past president of Allied Printing Trades Council and an officer of the West Central Labor Council; he served on the board of directors of the Peoria Labor Temple and was a former director of the Peoria Labor News; he served as a delegate to numerous national and state Typographical and AFL-CIO conventions; and

WHEREAS, He was the recipient of the West Central Labor Council Community Service Award and served as grand marshal of the Peoria Labor Day parade in 2002; he served as the Journal Star Red Stocking Santa Claus for many years; he was a charter member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and was Hibernian of the Year; he was a charter member of the St. Patrick Society of Peoria and was grand marshall of the St. Patrick's Day 2001 parade; he was a former member of the Peoria-Tazewell Heart Association board, and in 1995 received the Peoria Heights Outstanding Citizen of the Year award presented by Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce; he was a former board member of the Rural Peoria County Council on Aging and delivered Meals on Wheels for more than 10 years; and

WHEREAS, A member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Peoria, he was past president of its Men's Club and was head usher at the church; he also was a member of Knights of Columbus 427 Third Degree Spalding Council for 69 years; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Edward Michael Phelan is felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Marilyn "Lou"; his son, Michael; his daughter, Mary Phelan; his two grandsons; and his sister, Theresa Gilles; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Edward Michael Phelan and we extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

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