SR0494 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0494 LRB093 21801 HSS 49665 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Emmett V. McNamara Sr. of Villa Park on Wednesday, March 3, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McNamara was born in 1926 in Villa Park; he attended York High School in Elmhurst; he married Jeanne McNamara in 1964; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McNamara was a great patriot and defended his country during World War II in the U.S. Army; he served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a corporal; he was honorably discharged in January of 1947 having earned the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, the Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal for Japan; upon his return home, he became an electrician; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McNamara was a devoted union activist for many years; he was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 701 from 1967 to 1990 and represented the interests of that union in State government for nearly 40 years; and

WHEREAS, In his work as a lobbyist for the I.B.E.W., Mr. McNamara was a staunch ally of blue collar working families and was instrumental in the passing of much legislation that benefitted all of the hard-working citizens of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McNamara was a former acting chairman and member of the DuPage Airport Authority; he was a devoted family man, and he believed that if every person would help his or her neighbor, no person would be without help; to his friends in Springfield, he was known as "Smokey"; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Emmett V. McNamara Sr. has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Jeanne McNamara; his children, Emmett Jr., Eugene, Kathleen Bakken, and Edward Sr.; his grandchildren, Michael, Edward Jr., Aidan, and Emily; his siblings, Earl, Kathleen, Rita Sheehan, and Eugene; and his many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Emmett V. McNamara Sr., and we 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 Emmett V. McNamara Sr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.