SR0709 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0709 LRB093 23762 CSA 53784 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lars Hoffman, a political and civic "prince" who served as the Village of Godfrey's first mayor and taught thousands of students at Lewis and Clark Community College, died on October 23, 2004; and

WHEREAS, He was born December 2, 1940 in Des Moines, Iowa to Gene L. and Ruth (Hillis) Hoffman, and married the former Judy G. Callender on May 12, 1984 in Alton; and

WHEREAS, He was elected mayor of Godfrey in 1991 and served for two terms; he was a school board member for the Brussels Public School District; he was a state representative candidate in 1978; he was awarded the Citizen of the Year in 2003 by Pride Inc.; and he was a past recipient of the Elijah P. Lovejoy Award; and

WHEREAS, He received numerous awards for excellence in teaching during his 35-year teaching career; he was a professor at Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) in Godfrey for 30 years, a visiting professor at Principia College, and an adjunct professor at McKendree College; and

WHEREAS, He helped implement Model Illinois Government at LCCC, where college students from across the State debate and play out the roles of Illinois Senate and House members; he also produced and hosted a weekly show, "Metro Talk," at LCCC for Charter Cable that informed the community about local issues; and

WHEREAS, He received a bachelor of arts degree from Grinnell College; he attended the School of International Service at American University in Washington, D.C. and later attended the University of Iowa, where he received a master of arts and a Ph.D in American history and political philosophy; and

WHEREAS, He was active in many organizations and projects throughout the community, including the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club; 100 Black Men of Alton; Alton Museum of History and Art; Growth Association of Southwestern Illinois; and End of Life Coalition and Pride; and he was a member and Sunday school teacher at Sixth Church of Christ Scientist in St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his father, Gene L. Hoffman; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Lars Hoffman will be felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Judy; his mother, Ruth Hoffman; his daughter and son-in-law, Alexandra and Charles Gottdiener; his son and daughter-in-law, Shayler and Cara Hoffman; his stepson and his wife, Clayton and Debra Marquis; his stepdaughter and her husband, Stacia and Lee Ebrey; his grandchildren, Benjamin and Sophia Gottdiener, Cecelia and Stockton Hoffman, Jeremy and Matthew Myers, Alyson Ebrey, and Drew and Turner Marquis; his two brothers and sisters-in-law, Lynn and Karen Hoffman and Robert "Buzz" and Sandy Hoffman; and other extended family, colleagues and many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lars Hoffman and extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lars Hoffman as an expression of our deepest sympathy.