SR0474 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0474 LRB096 15235 KXB 30313 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois Legislator John Carlton Parkhurst "Parky", of Peoria, who passed away on October 17, 2009; and

WHEREAS, John Parkhurst was born July 14, 1920, in Springfield, to Laird and Pauline Wiley Parkhurst; he married Harriet Vance "Hattie" on Jan. 5, 1946, in Peoria; he graduated in the famous Peoria "Central" High School class of 1938 and was a 1942 graduate of Wabash College; and

WHEREAS, He served in World War II in the Army Air Forces from 1942-1945, earning the Bronze Star; he graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1948; and

WHEREAS, He served a decade on the Peoria County Board, where he was chairman, and a decade in the Illinois Legislature, where he was House Minority Whip, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and co-chairman of a group of legislators known as the "Economy Bloc"; he was elected in 1969 as a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention, where he was known as the "Con Con Tiger," served as chairman of the Local Government Committee, and provided many words and thoughts included in our State constitution; he will forever be remembered as the "Father of Home Rule," creating the powers of local government later used by the City of Peoria to finance the Peoria Civic Center; he also served as Assistant Illinois Attorney General in charge of pollution prosecution and consumer fraud from 1969-1972; and

WHEREAS, He retired from politics undefeated and returned to Peoria to raise his family and pursue his legal career; he practiced law in Peoria from 1948 to 1992, was a member of the Illinois State and Peoria County Bar associations, and was a co-founder of the law firm of Leiter, Newlin, Fraser, Parkhurst & McCord; and

WHEREAS, Parky and Hattie were dedicated to serving the City of Peoria and the community they loved; they received numerous awards and recognition for their public service, including the Fourth Annual Easter Seal Tribute; they were supporters of arts and music, including Lakeview Museum and Corn Stock Theatre; and he was a faithful servant and member of First Federated Church; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death in 1996 by Harriet, the love of his life and wife for 50 years; and

WHEREAS, John Parkhurst is survived by his six children, Vance C. (Jeanne), Christina L. Pfanschmidt, John W. (Kristina), Peter L. (Jean), Nancy A. Hinnen (John), and Robert C. (Jennifer); his 12 grandchildren; and his four great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

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

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of John Parkhurst as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.