SR1039 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1039 LRB097 23641 GRL 72706 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James P. Hughes Sr., who passed away on November 21, 2012; and

WHEREAS, James Hughes Sr. was born in Indiana and raised in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, After graduating college in 1942, James Hughes Sr. enlisted in the United States Army, where he served in the 17th and 82nd Airborne Divisions; he subsequently earned his law degree in 1948 from DePaul University and began practicing real estate law; and

WHEREAS, James Hughes Sr. had a long and distinguished career as a builder and land developer; in 1961, he formed the Wiseman Construction Company with Jerry A. Wiseman; in 1985, he purchased the remaining shares of the company; under his direction, the firm built an estimated 35,000 homes in the south suburbs, Wheaton, Naperville, Plainfield, Oswego, Sycamore, DeKalb, Sugar Grove, and North Aurora; he also built apartment buildings, shopping centers, and office buildings; and

WHEREAS, In 1964, James Hughes Sr. fulfilled his lifelong dream of living on a farm by moving to the 800-acre Cloonlara Farm near Elburn; he grew corn, wheat, and soybeans and raised livestock on the farm; and

WHEREAS, James Hughes Sr. was an avid White Sox fan, tuning into day games by radio in his office; he was an avid supporter of Marmion Academy and Rosary High School and was a past chairman of the Missionary Vehicles Association; and

WHEREAS, James Hughes Sr. was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dorothy; and

WHEREAS, James Hughes Sr. is survived by his sons, James, Michael, and Sean; his daughters, Maureen McKanna and Sheila Fitzsimmons; and his 13 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of James P. Hughes Sr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of James Hughes Sr. as an expression of our sympathy.