SR0334 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0334 LRB099 11894 MST 34007 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Harold Eugene "Gene" Dixon of rural Mount Sterling, who passed away on March 21, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Gene Dixon was born in Quincy on June 23, 1936 to Edwin Albert and Lydia Ann Dorsey Dixon; he attended Grove School and graduated from Brown County High School in 1954; he married Carlene Marrisco Husted on June 26, 1955 at the Presbyterian Church in Mount Sterling; and

WHEREAS, Gene Dixon traveled the tri-state area for Burrus Seed Farms, where he was regional sales manager for 35 years; he also worked as sales representative for Bowes Seal Fast; he hauled livestock for hire and operated his own auctioneer business; and

WHEREAS, Gene Dixon showed hogs and sheep at the Brown County Fair throughout his grade school and high school years and served as Section 13 Vice-President of his Future Farmers of America chapter; in the mid-1950s, he became interested in judging tractor pulls and was in charge of the first pull held at the Brown County Fair; in 1959, he began serving on the fair board, and, in 1984, he was named fair board President and continued as its leader for another 30 years until he retired in 2013; in 2008, he received the Illinois County Fair Person of the Year Award; he served for almost 20 years on the Illinois Tractor Pullers Association Board, 9 of those years as President; he raised Standardbred horses and enjoyed watching them compete; and

WHEREAS, Gene Dixon served in many capacities, including with the Brown County School Board, the Farm Bureau, the Perry Cemetery Board, the Elkhorn Township Clerk, and Little League; he was also a member of the Hardin Lodge No. 44 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, the Quincy Consistory, and the Shriners; earlier in life, he was a member of the Perry Methodist Church, and for the last 60 years, he was a devoted member of the Mount Sterling Presbyterian Church of Christ, where he served as elder; he served on the Mount Sterling Farmers State Bank and Trust Board of Directors for many years; and

WHEREAS, Gene Dixon loved taking his family mushroom hunting in the woods and teaching them to fish with a cane pole; and

WHEREAS, Gene Dixon was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jon Dixon; and his brother-in-law, Edward Husted; and

WHEREAS, Gene Dixon is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Carlene; his 3 children, Linda A. Dixon, Rhonda J. Jachino, and Michael (Angela) Dixon; his 4 grandchildren, Jared M. Jachino, Andrea J. Jachino, Regan A. Dixon, and Rylan M. Dixon; his sister-in-law, Sharon Dixon; and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Harold Eugene "Gene" Dixon, 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 Gene Dixon as an expression of our deepest sympathy.