HR0794 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0794 LRB103 40597 ECR 73226 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Burl Wayne Griffith, the former Mayor of Dieterich, who passed away on March 31, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was born to Glen Dale and Lorene Griffith in Effingham on January 3, 1950; he lived in Dieterich his entire life; he graduated from Dieterich High School in 1968, where he was a member of the yearbook staff, the historian club, and the student council, played on the basketball and baseball teams, and ran track and cross country; he attended Lakeland College from 1968 to 1970; he received a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in physical education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1972, where he was a scholarship athlete; he married Audrey Weiffenbach at the First Christian Church in Effingham on November 9, 1974, and they had three children, Trent Wayne, Ty, and Tori Lorene; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith worked as a substitute teacher in Effingham and Jasper Counties for two and a half years; he served as a transportation engineer at Ameren/CIPS in Newton and as a steward for Local 702 for many years; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith possessed extraordinary love and insight into the future for his community while serving as Mayor of Dieterich for two terms; during his tenure, he encouraged new businesses to come to Dieterich and helped establish North Pointe, a new, affordable subdivision targeted towards people with growing families; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith served as a school board member of Dieterich Community Unit School District 30 for many years; he was instrumental in helping the implementation of Spanish into the school curriculum, securing land to build a preschool for the district, and overseeing the completion of a large remodeling project; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was an active member of his community, serving as a deacon at the First Christian Church in Dieterich, a precinct committeeman for several years, and a volunteer firefighter; he was also a member of the Winterrowd Masonic Lodge #664 in Dieterich and was a Shriner with the Ainad Temple; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith continued the legacy of his late mother by helping form and operate the Dieterich Park District while coaching Little League; in turn, he encouraged and instilled civic responsibilities in his children by making it a family project to assist with the building and maintenance of the Dieterich Park District and Veterans Memorial; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was a sports fan all of his life, and he often participated in pick-up basketball games on Saturday mornings with local talent; he played on a 45 and older men's basketball team until age 55, and his team, D-J's Party and Supply, became tournament champions; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was one-of-a-kind and never met a stranger, and he would do anything for those in need without wanting credit; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Trent Wayne Griffith; his sister, Betty Dale Klein; his brother-in-law, Rocky Bloemker; and his nephew, Brandon Weiffenbach; and

WHEREAS, Burl Griffith is survived by his wife of 49 years, Audrey Griffith; his children, Ty (Bri) Griffith and Tori (Jeff) Amburn; his grandchildren, Charlotte, Sutton, and Alexander; his sister, Marsha (Hallie) Beals; his brothers-in-law, Bud (Fran) Klein and John F. (Cathy) Weiffenbach; his sister-in-law, Cleone Bloemker; and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Burl Wayne Griffith, the former Mayor of Dieterich, 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 Burl Griffith as an expression of our deepest sympathy.