SR0747 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0747 LRB096 21840 KXB 39775 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of J.M. "Sully" Sullivan of Peoria, who passed away on March 31, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born to H.T. "Tommy" and Colleen Kelleher Sullivan in Peoria on Easter Sunday; he grew up in St. Patrick's Parish, where he received his First Communion from Bishop Fulton J. Sheen; he then became a member of Sacred Heart Church; and

WHEREAS, He was in the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sep) in Dak To, Vietnam, and in the 18th Airborne Corps, United States Army; he attended Illinois State University, where he founded the Gamma Sigma Nu Fraternity, which later became the Sigma Nu Fraternity; after college, he worked in pubs and in wholesale in Bloomington; and

WHEREAS, In 1979, he moved back to Peoria and founded his first two bars, Sully's Beach Club and Sully's Irish Pub, both of which were located in Peoria Heights; subsequently, he founded Sully's Pub and Cafe on Adams Street, Champions on Farmington Road, Sullivan Rock Cafe on Sterling Avenue, Texas Cafe on North Adams Street, Sullivan's Other Planet (SOP), ZZ Pops on Main Street, and Khaki Jacks on Allen Road, and also served as sales manager for the Peoria Rivermen hockey team; and

WHEREAS, In 1998, he met his wife, Molly (Mihm) and they were married on May 20, 2006; together, they re-established Sullivan's Pub on Main Street and F. Scott's Whiskey Bar on Jefferson Street; in 2008, they established Sullivan's in Peoria Heights; over the years, they also designed and decorated other Peoria restaurants; and

WHEREAS, J.M. "Sully" Sullivan is survived by his wife, Molly (Mihm) Sullivan; his daughter, Becky (Jim) Myszka and their four children, Matt, Ben, Katie, and John; his mother, Colleen; his sisters, Maureen (Brice) Baumgarten, Dodie (Steve) Gomer, Margaret (Chuck) Walter, Becky (John) Blasek, Tracy (John) Meisinger, Susie Blasek, Mary (Danny) Arnold, and Colleen (Dave) DeFord; and his brother, Pat (Lark); also surviving are his beloved nieces and nephews and their families; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of J.M. Sullivan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of J.M. Sullivan as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.