SR0622 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0622 LRB099 12631 MST 36252 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of David P. "Dave" Benton of Champaign, who passed away on May 26, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Dave Benton was born in Buffalo, New York on September 19, 1962 to Donald and Anna Ricci Benton; he was raised in Addison and received his bachelor's degree in broadcast news from Northern Illinois University; he married Teresa "Terri" Ware on April 26, 1986 in DeKalb; and

WHEREAS, Dave Benton worked in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Wausau, Wisconsin; and Minot, North Dakota; he joined WCIA3 in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Dave Benton was named "Most Beloved TV Personality" in 1999; he received a Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association (MBJA, formerly the NBNA) first-place documentary award in 2003 and a MBJA Eric Sevareid Award of Merit for general reporting; and

WHEREAS, Dave Benton anchored and produced the "Best Medium Market Public Affairs Program" according to the Illinois Broadcasters Association for his Crime Stoppers specials; he received the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award in 2011; and

WHEREAS, The Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award was established to recognize those who are making a difference in Champaign County; and

WHEREAS, Dave Benton was preceded in death by his father, and his paternal and maternal grandparents; and

WHEREAS, Dave Benton is survived by his wife, Terri; his children, Lauren (Denise Macaluso) Benton and Matthew Benton; his 3 brothers, Mark (Bobbi) Benton, Brian (Karen) Benton, and Drew (Karen) Benton; his sister, Elizabeth (the late Gerald) Arizpe; his niece, Meagen Arizpe; and his nephew, Vincent Arizpe; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of David P. "Dave" Benton, 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 Dave Benton as an expression of our deepest sympathy.