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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Richard A. Goodwin of Alton, who passed
4away on June 13, 2011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, He attended Alton schools, graduating in 1964; he
6participated in school sports through his sophomore year; in
7high school, he played basketball for 2 seasons for the YMCA
8Flyers, making it to the Final Four in 1964; in 1967, he was
9injured while a passenger in an automobile accident in Alton;
10he was paralyzed from the chest down and became a wheelchair
11user; in 1969, he entered Southern Illinois University
12Edwardsville, where he earned a BA in American studies and an
13MA in sociology; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After graduation, he lived and worked in St. Louis
15for approximately 10 years; in 1985, he returned to Alton as
16the founding executive director of IMPACT, a disability rights
17and independent living organization; he was well-known as an
18expert on the history and philosophy of the disability rights
19and independent living movements, regularly providing training
20around the State; his writings were used to help train
21individuals from new disability right advocates to special
22education students and professionals; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, He served as executive director of IMPACT until
22004; he remained as an adviser for a short period; during his
3life he received many awards of recognition, including the
4Justin Dart Distinguished Citizen Award, Ed Roberts
5Independent Living Award, The Magic Award, Spirit of
6Independence Award, and the Alton YWCA Man of Distinction
7Award; his most proud moment came when being distinguished as
8the 2010 Alton Halloween Parade Grand Marshal; and
 
9    WHEREAS, In retirement, he enjoyed time with his wife and
10extended family, renewing old friendships and attending Alton
11High School varsity basketball games; he downloaded hundreds of
12music videos, created music videos for the AHS class of 1964,
13and became a video blogger on living with colon cancer; he was
14generally ready on short notice for lunch or dinner out,
15driving his ramp-equipped van around Alton and, at different
16times, driving to Florida, Cape Cod, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
17Tennessee, and other parts of the country; and
 
18    WHEREAS, On May 19, 1990, he married the former Jan Belt
19Arnoldi at Main Street United Methodist Church; and
 
20    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents, George
21and Ellen (Stone) Goodwin; and a sister, Viola Baehler; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Richard Goodwin is survived by his wife; his son,

 

 

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1Troy (Julie) Arnoldi; his grandchildren, Brandon and Brooke
2Beckerdite and Addison and Reagan Arnoldi; his brothers, George
3(Verma) and Ron (Barbara); his sister, Jo Ann Huntsman; he
4leaves many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family,
5and dear friends; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
8his family and friends, the passing of Richard Goodwin; and be
9it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Richard Goodwin as a symbol of our
12sincere sympathy.