SR1279LRB101 21814 ECR 72768 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of William "Bill" R. Browning, who passed
4away on July 5, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bill Browning was born to Ray James and Verda
6Browning in Christopher on May 26, 1930; he graduated from
7Christopher Community High School in 1948; he received his
8bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
9in 1952, majoring in English and Speech, and received his
10master's degree from the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt
11University in Nashville in 1958, majoring in Educational
12Administration; he married Catherine Venegoni at the First
13Christian Church in Christopher on January 13, 1951; he also
14served in the U.S. Army as a Battalion Sergeant Major during
15the Korean War; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In 1954, Bill Browning worked as a classroom
17teacher for English and Speech and as a coach for the Staunton
18Community High School district; in 1958, he moved to
19Springfield where he continued as a teacher and coach at
20Lanphier High School; in 1965, he was appointed co-director of
21the Community School Programs for the Springfield school
22district; from 1967 through 1974, he worked for the Community
23Development Division of the Illinois Department of Business and

 

 

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1Economic Development; in 1974, he moved to the Illinois
2Department of Personnel's Bureau of Inter-governmental and
3Manpower Affairs where he was appointed Manager of the Division
4of Employee Development; he closed his career as a grants
5administrator for the State Board of Education, where he
6assisted with training adult employees; after 38 years of
7community service, he retired in 1989; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Bill Browning was a lifetime member of the First
9Christian Church (FCC) and served as a deacon and elder at FCC
10in Springfield; he was a member of the American Legion Post #32
11and the Illinois Education Association; he was a member, board
12member, and honorary lifetime member of the Great Lakes Areas
13Development Council; he served as a member of the Advisory
14Board for the Basic Industrial Development Course at the
15University of Illinois; he authored numerous articles and
16delivered seminars and workshops; he also shared his love of
17sports by managing Khoury league baseball teams for several
18years during the summer months; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Bill Browning loved golf so much that he and his
20wife lived on a golf course in Mesa, Arizona for six months out
21of the year; when he wasn't golfing, he was researching his
22genealogy; he also liked crossword puzzles, reading, and all
23sports, particularly the Saint Louis Cardinals; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Bill Browning was preceded in death by his
2parents, Ray James and Verda Browning; his father-in-law, Bert
3Venegoni; his mother-in-law, Tina Venegoni; his sister-in-law,
4Jo Byars; and his brothers-in-law, Glenn Byars and Bert
5Venegoni Jr; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Bill Browning is survived by his wife, Catherine;
7his daughter, Kari R. Tomei (Bruce); his son, William R.
8Browning Jr. (Georgina); his grandchildren, Jenna, Kevin, and
9Marissa Jenkins (Tomei) and Kierra and Tianna Browning; his
10sister-in-law, Gracie Venegoni; and his several nieces,
11nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
14William "Bill" R. Browning and extend our sincere condolences
15to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
16it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Bill Browning as an expression of
19our deepest sympathy.