093_HR0549

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 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, It is with deepest sorrow that  the  members  of
 3    the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois learned
 4    of  the  death  of  one  of  our respected former colleagues,
 5    Senator Stanley B. Weaver of Urbana, on Tuesday, November 11,
 6    2003; and

 7        WHEREAS, Stanley B. Weaver was born on May  23,  1925  in
 8    Harrisburg to Lana and Ethel Baird Weaver; he attended Urbana
 9    High  School, where he played football and graduated in 1943;
10    he went on  to  attend  Michigan  State  University  and  the
11    University  of  Illinois,  and  graduated  from  the  Indiana
12    College  of  Mortuary  Science; he married Mary Smith on June
13    15, 1948 in Urbana; she preceded him in death on February 22,
14    1998; and

15        WHEREAS, Senator Weaver valiantly served his  country  in
16    the  U.S.  Army Air Force during World War II in the Pacific,
17    earning five battle stars; he was a member of the  crew  that
18    flew  peace delegates to the Tokyo ceremonies ending the war;
19    and

20        WHEREAS, Stanley Weaver first  served  one  term  in  the
21    House  of  Representatives,  then represented the citizens of
22    the 52nd District as a member of the Senate from  1970  until
23    2002;  he  was respectfully known as the dean of the Illinois
24    Senate; and

25        WHEREAS, For 45 years, Senator Weaver devoted his life to
26    public service; he served three terms as Mayor of Urbana from
27    May 1957 to January 1969; he was named to  the  newly-created
28    position  of Senate Majority Leader in 1997, after serving as
29    Assistant Senate Leader for 22 years; he most recently served
30    as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, and was  a  member
31    of  the Senate Executive Committee, Appropriations Committee,
32    and Operations Commission; and
 
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 1        WHEREAS, As a lawmaker, Senator Weaver's priorities  were
 2    those   of  the  people  he  represented,  including  quality
 3    education, agriculture, and economic development;  he  was  a
 4    strong  advocate for the University of Illinois and helped it
 5    become one of the best institutions of  higher  education  in
 6    the  nation;  he  helped  to  bring an estimated $1.1 billion
 7    worth of construction projects to the University of Illinois;
 8    and

 9        WHEREAS, When Senator Stanley B. Weaver rose to speak  in
10    the  Senate, people recognized his command of the issues, and
11    listened; he was held in the highest esteem by his colleagues
12    from both political parties; and

13        WHEREAS,  Senator  Weaver  served  as  president  of  the
14    Illinois Municipal League; he was a member of the Veterans of
15    Foreign Wars and American Legion Post 71; he earned the  rare
16    distinction of 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason as a result of
17    his  long-time  service  with  the  Masonic  Lodge,  Danville
18    Consistory;  he  was  a member of the Mohammed Temple and the
19    International Chili Society; and

20        WHEREAS,  Senator  Weaver   was   a   member   of   First
21    Presbyterian  Church  of  Urbana,  Urbana  Masonic  Lodge 157
22    AF&AM, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Danville,
23    and the Ancient Arabic Order  Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine
24    Ansar  Temple;  he  was also a member of the Illinois Funeral
25    Directors  Association,  the   National   Funeral   Directors
26    Association,  the  Urbana Chamber of Commerce, the Knights of
27    Pythias, the Champaign County Republicans, the Urbana Country
28    Club, and the Urbana Elks Club; and

29        WHEREAS, Senator Weaver and the former  Champaign  County
30    Coroner, Tom Henderson, operated the Weaver-Henderson Funeral
31    Home in Urbana; he enjoyed gardening and yard work; and

32        WHEREAS,  The  passing  of  Senator  Weaver has been most
 
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 1    deeply felt by those who supported him  throughout  both  his
 2    public  and private career, especially his son, Blake Weaver;
 3    his daughter, Sherry Weaver; his brother,  John  Weaver;  his
 4    sister, Jean Dempsey; and his two grandchildren; therefore be
 5    it

 6        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
 7    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that
 8    we  mourn  the  passing  of  Senator Stanley B. Weaver, a man
 9    whose continuing example of  selfless  service  will  have  a
10    permanent  place in the memory of associates and friends; and
11    be it further

12        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
13    presented  to  the  family of Senator Stanley B. Weaver as an
14    expression of our deepest condolences during  their  time  of
15    bereavement.