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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of former Illinois State Representative
4and State Senator Richard Nelson Luft of Pekin, who passed
5away on August 18, 2023; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Richard Luft was born to Willis Richard and
7Beulah Frances (Jolly) Luft on March 14, 1938; he spent his
8early life in South Pekin, and he was thought to be the
9youngest survivor of the 1938 South Pekin Tornado; he attended
10Pekin Community High School (PCHS), where he played football,
11performed in school plays, and became interested in music; he
12attended the University of Illinois at Springfield, earning a
13bachelor's degree in political studies and a master's degree
14in public administration; he married Janice Thornton in 1963,
15and they had four children, Scott, Mark, Julie, and Darcy; he
16later married Jill Massey in Key West, Florida on April 1,
171991; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Upon graduation, Richard Luft taught sixth grade
19in Creve Coeur and Morton; he left teaching to pursue his
20passion for politics, and he was elected Auditor of Tazewell
21County in 1964 and served two terms; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Richard Luft served in the Illinois House of

 

 

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1Representatives from 1975 to 1979 and the Illinois State
2Senate from 1983 to 1993; his legislative assignments included
3the Committees on Commerce and Economic Development, Executive
4Appointments, Veterans' Affairs, Finance and Credit
5Regulations, Insurance Pensions and Licensed Activities, Local
6Government as vice-chair, Revenue as chairman, and the
7Economic and Fiscal Commission as co-chair; he also served as
8committeeman of the Democratic State Central Committee for the
918th District; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Richard Luft was appointed by then-Governor Jim
11Edgar as commissioner of Banks and Trust Companies for the
12State in 1993, overseeing 662 state-chartered banks and 46
13foreign banking offices; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Richard Luft worked as a commercial and
15investment banker outside of politics, eventually leaving his
16political career for a consulting position with LaSalle Bank
17ABN AMRO in Chicago; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Richard Luft was a member of Ironwood Country
19Club for 25 years; he enjoyed golfing with friends at Ironwood
20Country Club and Pekin Country Club and on his annual
21political golfing excursion in Palm Springs, California; he
22loved swimming and took pleasure in taking morning swims at
23Pekin Country Club with his friend, Bill; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Richard Luft enjoyed traveling the world together
2with his wife, Jill, before finally settling in Palm Desert,
3California for the winter season; he also enjoyed playing his
4guitar, songwriting, and singing late into the night; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Richard Luft dearly loved and was proud of his
6family; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Richard Luft was preceded in death by his
8grandson, Marshall Lawson; his parents; and his brother,
9Thomas Lee Luft; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Richard Luft is survived by his wife of 32 years,
11Jill; his children, Scott (Carmen) Luft, Mark (Lelonie) Luft,
12Julie (Derek) Guidotti, and Darcy (Chris) Lawson; his
13grandchildren, Matthew Luft, Andrew (Krista) Luft, Morgan
14(Zachary) Murtha, Elizabeth (Jeff) Kaeb, Michael (Sarah) Luft,
15Abby Dobrei, Gaby Peyton, and Garrett Lawson; nine
16great-grandchildren; his cousin, Joanne (Luft) Miller; and his
17friend and brother in his heart, Denny Sullivan; therefore, be
18it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
21former Illinois State Representative and State Senator Richard

 

 

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1Nelson Luft and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
2friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Richard Luft as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.