[ Search ] [ PDF text ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
92_HR0064
LRB9207771RHrh
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to express their sincere condolences to
4 the family and friends of G. Seely Johnston, who passed away
5 on February 7, 2001; and
6 WHEREAS, G. Seeley Johnston was born on May 25, 1903 in
7 Champaign County to Harley Tenney and Clara Roe Seely
8 Johnston; he attended Pleasant Ridge, a one-room school in
9 Champaign County, and graduated from Champaign High School in
10 1920; he was a 1924 graduate of the University of Illinois,
11 having been a student in the College of Commerce with minors
12 in history and geology; he was a booster of Illini athletics
13 as a charter member of the University of Illinois
14 Grant-in-Aid program and the University of Illinois
15 Quarterback Club; Mr. Johnston was also active in Delta
16 Upsilon fraternity at the local and national level and kept
17 ties with young and old members alike; and
18 WHEREAS, Mr. Johnston began in the sporting goods
19 business, Johnston's Sport Shop, in downtown Champaign in
20 1926; his first shop was on the second floor at 8 Main Street
21 which later moved to to its current location at 34 Chester
22 Street in 1970; the shop became a springboard for dozens of
23 political and civic involvements; and
24 WHEREAS, Mr. Johnston became involved in politics in the
25 1960's, managing the mayoral campaign of Emmerson Dexter; and
26 as a member of the Champaign City Council from 1965 through
27 1973 and ran for mayor in 1967 and 1975; and
28 WHEREAS, Mr. Johnston was well known at Chanute Air Force
29 Base where he was the self-appointed emissary from Champaign
30 and friend to airmen and commanders alike for most of the
31 century; and
-2- LRB9207771RHrh
1 WHEREAS, Mr. Johnston held memberships in many
2 organizations including, being a member of the First United
3 Methodist Church of Champaign, where he taught Sunday School;
4 he was the oldest member of the Champaign Exchange Club,
5 having been a member since 1926, state secretary for the
6 Illinois Exchange Clubs; a member of the American Revolution,
7 the Champaign County Club, American Legion Post 24, the
8 Champaign Elks CLub, the Champaign Chamber of Commerce, the
9 Champaign Moose Club and the Champaign Farm Bureau; he was a
10 longtime member of the Champaign County Fair Board and
11 organized many Senior Citizen Days at the fair; and an
12 officer of the Mckinley YMCA where he organized fund-raisers
13 for cancer and cerebral palsy; and
14 WHEREAS, Among Mr. Johnston's greatest loves was
15 promoting local sports, primarily Champaign Central High
16 School and the University of Illinois; he started the
17 forerunner of Little League in Champaign County in the 1920's
18 and helped form and served on the Champaign Recreation Board
19 which has sponsored dozens of softball and basketball teams
20 over the years; in 1998, Champaign Central High School named
21 its honor hall after Mr. Johnston in recognition of the
22 decades of support he has given to the school; he also has a
23 park in Champaign named after him; and
24 WHEREAS, The passing of G. Seely Johnston will be deeply
25 felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife,
26 Anne; his son, Scott Johnston; his daughter, Jan Glick; his
27 four grandchildren; and his six great-grandchildren;
28 therefore, be it
29 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
30 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
31 we mourn, along with all who knew him, the death of G. Seely
32 Johnston of Champaign, Illinois; and be it further
-3- LRB9207771RHrh
1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to the family of G. Seely Johnston with our sincere
3 condolences.