SR0825 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0825 LRB096 22305 KXB 41352 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former Alton Police Chief Rudolph "Rudy" Sowders Jr., who passed away May 4, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born on February 28, 1937, in Alton to Rudolph C. and Velma (Crews) Sowders Sr.; he married the former Betty Iberg on September 10, 1955, in East Alton; and

WHEREAS, Hey retired in 1985 after 26 years service with the Alton Police Department; he served as chief of police from 1969 to 1985; after his retirement, he worked as a manager for the Pepsi Cola Distributing Co; he co-owned and operated Turn 2 Collectibles for 16 years; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the FBI National Academy Association, the Major Case Squad, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Southern Illinois Police Chiefs Association, the Policemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Illinois, the Illinois Police Association, the FBI National Academy Associates of Illinois, and the Alton Nature League; he was a former member of the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and the East End Business Association; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his father; and

WHEREAS, Rudolph Sowders Jr. is survived by his wife, Betty; his mother, Velma Hutte; his daughters, Lisa Dublo and her spouse, Jeff, and Donna Droste; his sons, Rick Sowders and his spouse, Susan, John Sowders and his spouse, Ellen, Jerry Sowders and his spouse, Donna, and Mark Sowders; his 13 grandchildren, David Sowders, Angela Sowders, Matt Sowders, Steven Sowders, Kathy Sowders, Logan Sowders, Cole Sowders, Natalie Sowders, Jeff Dublo Jr., Melissa Dublo, Michael Dublo, Joshua Droste, and Bethany Droste; his two great-grandchildren, Jenna Dublo and Grant Dublo; his two sisters-in-law, Elaine Iberg and Shirley Bandy and her spouse, Michael; his brother-in-law, James Bizaillion and his spouse, Nina; and his close friend, Dale Dooley; 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 Rudolph Sowders Jr.; and be it further

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