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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Charley "Joey" Moyer of Wilmington,
4North Carolina, formerly of Alton, who passed away on
5September 16, 2021; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was born with cerebral palsy in
7Chicago on May 1, 1945; he was immediately adopted by William
8and Pauline Moyer; he was placed in the former Illinois Asylum
9for Feeble-Minded Children in Lincoln at the age of two and a
10half years; he relocated to a foster home in Alton in 1968;
11while in Alton, he was cared for by Dale and Carol Neudecker
12for over 30 years; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was affectionately known as "Alton's
14Can Man" for picking up aluminum cans as an additional source
15of income around Upper Alton every day, no matter the weather;
16he was well known in the area for his hard work and friendly
17smile, and he was considered one of Alton's most famous
18residents; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was determined to live life as
20normally as possible; after he left the foster home in Alton,
21he rented a very small apartment off Ninth Street; while
22there, he was severely beaten by a fellow boarder in 1987; his

 

 

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1attack and the ensuing news coverage resulted in then-Governor
2Jim Thompson enacting the "Joey Bill", which made it a felony
3to attack a physically handicapped person; he was permitted to
4sit in Governor Thompson's chair as the governor signed the
5bill into law on January 13, 1988; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was reunited with his adoptive
7brothers in 2009, a meeting that he always wanted; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Joey Moyer, when he could no longer live on his
9own, moved to the home of his close friends Roger and Pat
10Lowery in Wilmington, North Carolina; he then eventually moved
11to a retirement facility, where he became a checkers master
12and challenged all comers at his new home; he was very happy
13during his last few years; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was an exceptional human being of
15extraordinary perseverance who was loved by all who knew him;
16therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
18ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
19Charley "Joey" Moyer and extend our sincere condolences to his
20family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
21further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Joey Moyer as an expression of our
3deepest sympathy.