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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Bobby Lee Weatherford of Litchfield, who
4passed away on May 25, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bobby Weatherford was born on November 1, 1928, in
6North Litchfield Township; he was the son of Glenn Preston
7"Spot" and Essie Mae (Hurtt) Weatherford; he married the former
8Lois Aileen Greenwalt on December 4, 1949, at the First Baptist
9Church in Litchfield; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Bobby Weatherford was a lifelong farmer; he was
11well known in the standardbred horse breeders circle; he
12started as a young man in pony pulls before entering into the
13pony harness racing circuits in 1964; he eventually entered
14into standardbred trotters and pacers circuits at various
15venues throughout the Midwest, which he did until he was forced
16to retire by State law at the age of 62; he was also involved
17with breeding and training of standardbred horses at his farm
18in Hornsby throughout his 48-year career; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Bobby Weatherford was the owner and operator of
20the Weatherford Freeway service station at the northeast corner
21of West Illinois Route 16 and U.S. Route 66 from 1971 until
221978; after selling his business, he went to work at the

 

 

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1Illinois Department of Transportation highway maintenance
2depot in Litchfield, where he remained until his retirement in
31995 as Lead Worker; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Bobby Weatherford was the recipient of several
5awards in the winners circle for both driving and as a breeder;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Bobby Weatherford was a member of the First
8Baptist Church of Litchfield; he was also a life member of Mt.
9Moriah Lodge #51 A.F. & A.M. and St. Omar Commandry #30 -
10Knights Templar in Hillsboro, a Past Master of the former
11Litchfield Lodge #236 A.F. & A.M., and a member of the Ansar
12Shrine - Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of
13Springfield, the Lavonne Chapter #55 Order of the Eastern Star,
14and the U.S. Trotting Association; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Bobby Weatherford was preceded in death by his
16wife, Lois, and his parents; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Bobby Weatherford is survived by his daughters,
18Marilyn (Jan) Gunderson and Joyce Weatherford; his
19grandchildren, Janna (Bret) Garness, Melissa Knippel (fiance,
20James Pellizzaro), and Bryan Knippel; his great-grandchildren,
21Garret and Kaylie Loomis and Taylor Garness; and his brother,
22Glenn Weatherford; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
3his family and friends, the passing of Bobby Lee Weatherford;
4and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Bobby Weatherford as an expression
7of our sympathy.