SR2005 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2005 LRB100 23374 ALS 42397 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Frederick E. "Fred" Payne of Champaign, who passed away on September 1, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Fred Payne was born at home in London Mills to Floyd and Angie (Essex) Payne on November 8, 1921; he graduated from Abingdon High School, where he played football and basketball, in 1940; and

WHEREAS, Fred Payne began working for Illinois Bell in 1941; in 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army as a teletype technician; after being honorably discharged, he returned to Illinois Bell, where he worked for 37 years until his retirement in December 1977; while at Illinois Bell, he volunteered with the Telephone Pioneers and was a past president of the Illinois Bell Credit Union; In 1964, he began working at the Assembly Hall, where he started as a gateman and later became gateman supervisor, serving in that capacity for 32 years; he also worked for the University of Illinois Athletic Association ticket office and the Assembly Hall ticket office; and

WHEREAS, Fred Payne was an election judge and an auditor for the Champaign County Fair Association for many years; he was a Boy Scout leader, member of the C-U Elks Lodge and Eagles Lodge, a lifetime member of the American Legion, where he was presented with a 70-year certificate in March 2017, and a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Champaign, where he was president of council many times; he was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Fighting Illini; he enjoyed bowling, basketball, football, golf, waking up early to watch the sun rise, feeding and watching the birds, and watching and counting jet trails in the sky; he was a true gentleman; and

WHEREAS, Fred Payne was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings; and

WHEREAS, Fred Payne is survived by his wife, Virginia, and his daughter, Linda Payne; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Frederick E. "Fred" Payne 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 Fred Payne as an expression of our deepest sympathy.