SR0636 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0636 LRB095 20589 GRL 48606 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Max Stewart of Raymond, who passed away on March 24, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Max Stewart was born on March 5, 1941 in Girard; his parents were Henry and Ruth Bethard Stewart; he married Karen Sue Wilton on January 8, 1960 in Hannibal, Missouri; and

WHEREAS, Max Stewart graduated from Raymond High School in 1959; after graduation, he attended Brown's Business College in Springfield and went to work at The State Journal-Register, where he worked for several years; he also attended auctioneering school in Colorado and established the Auction House in Farmersville; he then worked at Timmerman's in Litchfield and John Deere in Nokomis before moving his family to Florissant, Missouri, where he worked many years for the Globe Democrat and later the St. Louis Post Dispatch; he also wrote sporting columns for the nationally acclaimed Sporting News magazine and was a tax preparer for H&R Block during tax season; and

WHEREAS, After moving back to central Illinois in 1977, Max Stewart and his wife operated the Montgomery Ward catalog store in Carlinville for several years; from 1981 to 1985, he worked as the farm broadcaster at the WSMI radio station, where he created the "Auction Time" show, which still airs to this day; he was also a leader in establishing the Montgomery County Fair; and

WHEREAS, After his stint at WSMI, Max Stewart became a farm broadcaster for KMOX and KXOK radio in St. Louis, finishing his radio career on the Sun Radio Network; he then entered the business of real estate and eventually opened his own agency, Panhandle Realty in Raymond, where he was the owner and broker; around the same time, he and his wife established Panhandle Charity Tours, with proceeds from the Branson trips going to many local causes; and

WHEREAS, Max Stewart was an avid sports fan who enjoyed both the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues; he also served as a referee for high school basketball games for 18 years; and

WHEREAS, Max Stewart was a member of Pleasant Hill Christian Church in Raymond and the Illinois Association of Realtors; and

WHEREAS, Max Stewart enjoyed fishing and watching his grandchildren participate in a variety of sports; and

WHEREAS, Max Stewart was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Judy Lee; his sister's husband, Max Lee; and his nephew, Andy Leach; and

WHEREAS, Max Stewart is survived by his wife, Karen; his sons, Todd (Mary) Stewart, Randy Stewart, and Brett (DiLynn) Stewart; his daughters, Keri (Bill) Krager and Jennifer (Joe) Black; his grandchildren, Mathew Konneker, Josh, Randall, Steven, Nathan, and Kevin Stewart, Jordan Black, Austin Hemken, Tiffany and Taylor Krager, Rachel Armbruster, and Miranda Eccher; his great-grandchildren, Christian and Kyra Konneker, Gabe Stewart, and Zanden Lilly; his sister, Lois (Loren) Guthals; and his father-in-law, Russell Wilton; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Max Stewart; and be it further

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