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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of retired
4 police lieutenant James N. Gentry of Decatur, who passed away
5 on January 18, 2007; and
 
6     WHEREAS, James Gentry was born on November 29, 1931; his
7 parents were Fred and Luelle Arnold Gentry; he married Sandra
8 Sue Michaels on September 23, 1956; and
 
9     WHEREAS, He served in the United States Navy and was an
10 Electronics Mate aboard the U.S.S. Midway; and
 
11     WHEREAS, James Gentry was a graduate of Richland Community
12 College, attended Millikin University, and graduated from
13 Northwestern University Traffic Institute; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Mr. Gentry joined the Decatur Police Department in
15 1956; he worked as a Patrolman, Detective, Juvenile Officer,
16 and Sergeant; upon graduation from Northwestern University
17 Traffic Institute he was promoted to Lieutenant and retired in
18 1986 in that position; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Mr. Gentry was a life member of the Police
20 Benevolent and Protective Association, the First Christian

 

 

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1 Church, was President of the Decatur Shrine Club, Exalted Ruler
2 B.P.O.E. #401, a Commander of the American Legion, and a member
3 of the Moose Lodge; and
 
4     WHEREAS, He was instrumental in building the memorial on
5 the grounds of the Macon County Courthouse, where his father's
6 name, his brother Jack's name, and his name are all inscribed;
7 and
 
8     WHEREAS, He was a Fighting Illini fan and attended many of
9 their football and basketball games; he was a St. Louis
10 Cardinals fan; he loved Jeff Gordon and Nascar; he loved golf,
11 sometimes playing 3 or 4 times a week; he loved all kinds of
12 music; he loved gardening and his flowers; and he loved people,
13 never meeting a stranger; and
 
14     WHEREAS, He was an active member of the Republican Party,
15 serving as a precinct committeeman; he was a member of the
16 National Rifle Association, the Royal Order of Court Jesters
17 20, and was on the board of the Police Training Institute in
18 Champaign; and
 
19     WHEREAS, James Gentry was preceded in death by his parents;
20 his brother, Fred Jr., and his sister, Betty; and
 
21     WHEREAS, James Gentry is survived by his wife, Sandra; his

 

 

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1 son, James N. II, and his wife, Okanna, and their children,
2 Adam, Colin, and Katherine; his daughter, Amy Dianne Brown and
3 her husband, Bill, and their children, Claire, Ryan, and
4 William; his brothers, Jack and C. Lyle; and his sisters,
5 Shirley Thurber, and Avis Hallock; therefore, be it
 
6     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of James
9 N. Gentry; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to the family of James N. Gentry as a symbol of our
12 sympathy.