HR0105 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0105 LRB097 10767 KXB 51179 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jeffrey Thomas Markland of Urbana, who passed away on February 14, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born December 12, 1940, in Champaign, the son of Thomas Jefferson and Mary Louise Bell Markland; he married Wynn Margaret Williams (deceased) on October 4, 1959, and they had three children together; he married Barbara Sue Clark on August 27, 1986, in Rantoul; and

WHEREAS, He attended Dr. Howard Elementary and was in the graduating "Class of '59" at Champaign Central High School; he attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale; he returned to live in Champaign with his family to work for the family business, Markland's Painting; after some time he and his family moved to Urbana where he continued to work for Markland's Painting; and

WHEREAS, He served on the Urbana City Council from May 1, 1973, to April 30, 1977, and then as Mayor of Urbana from May 2, 1977, to May 3, 1993, the longest serving mayor in Urbana's history; he worked on many boards and committees; he served as president of the Illinois Municipal League, on the board of the National League of Cities, and on the board of Prairie Center; his involvement with Prairie Center was very dear to his heart because his father was one of three area men that started the Mustard Seed Program that later became Prairie Center; and

WHEREAS, For the last 10 years of Mr. Markland's professional career he worked for the State of Illinois in Springfield; he was an avid golfer throughout his adult life and spent his years of retirement doing what he loved most: swinging the irons, playing cards, and sharing his many stories, smile, and laughter with his loving family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Markland is survived by his wife, Barbara; his sons, Jeffrey (Jill) Markland, Thomas Markland, Bryan Markland, and Jimmy Hugh (Cheri) Clark; his daughters, Jean (Joey) Markland Tater and Shawna (Steve) Johnson; his grandchildren, Zachary Markland, Glory Figueroa, Jennifer Tater, Gracie Tater, Andrew Tater, Isaac Markland, Stephanie Johnson, Theodore Johnson III, and James Chidlaw; and his great-granddaughter, Zoey Markland; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Jeffrey Markland; and be it further

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