SR1357 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1357 LRB098 22036 MST 60903 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard G. "Dick" Rawlings of Jacksonville, who passed away on July 15, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was born on January 25, 1941 in Franklin to Herman Stanley "Bill" and Mona (nee Mitchell) Rawlings; he graduated from Franklin High School in 1959, and served in the United States Army; he was honorably discharged in October of 1959; he graduated from Bradley University in Peoria in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering; he married Diane Johnson on April 29, 1978 in Jacksonville; and

WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings worked as a civil engineer and land surveyor, licensed in Illinois and Missouri, for over 35 years; during that time, he served as President of the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association, and was named recipient of the association's "A. "Pat" Patterson Illinois Land Surveyor of the Year Award" in 1999; he was owner and principal at the Jacksonville-based engineering firm, Benton and Associates, from 1971 until his retirement in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings served as Chairman of Corridor 67 Inc., leading local efforts toward the expansion of the highway; he served 2 terms as Morgan County Commissioner, winning elections in 2006 and 2012; he was a long-time member of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, volunteering countless hours and receiving the Circle of Excellence Award; he served on the board of directors for the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation, the Passavant Hospital Foundation, the Governor Duncan Association, the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni, and the West Central Development Council, and was a member of both the Meredosia and the Florence Bridge Replacement Citizens Advisory Committees; he was also a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, the Elks lodge, the Moose lodge, the Rotary Club, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Harmony Masonic Lodge 3-Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Scottish Rite-Valley of Springfield, the Ansar Shrine, the Rasna Shrine Club, and ROJ Court 20; he gave countless hours as a member of the Combined Veterans Ceremonial Team, providing graveside military honors to his fallen comrades; and

WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was an avid outdoorsman; he loved spending time on his houseboat at the Alton Marina, enjoying the Mississippi River and its history, hunting with his son Michael and friends, and deep-sea fishing; and

WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, William "Bill" Rawlings; and one sister-in-law, Sherry Peck Rawlings; and

WHEREAS, Dick Rawlings is survived by his wife, Diane; his 2 children, Monica (Christopher Ryan) Carroll and Michael (fiancee, Holly Loy) Rawlings; his 3 grandchildren, Jackson and Elaine Carroll and Nathanyle Loy; his sister, Marilyn (Darrell) Smith; his brother, Robert "Bob" Rawlings; and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard G. "Dick" Rawlings, and 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 Dick Rawlings as an expression of our deepest sympathy.