SR1296 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1296 LRB102 29636 ECR 41663 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Michael A. Hurt of Jacksonville, who passed away on September 14, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Michael Hurt was born to Gerald Allen and Helen Louise Ulrey Hurt in Terre Haute, Indiana on September 17, 1948; he married Peggy Lee "Jamsie" Waldron in Norwalk, Connecticut on November 26, 1975; he graduated from Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston; he later earned his MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and

WHEREAS, Michael Hurt taught at Petersburg Porta High School until he joined the Abraham Lincoln Council of the Boy Scouts of America as a district executive for the Honest Abe District; he left professional scouting to serve as the executive director for JAARC/Pathway School from 1973 to 1984; during this time, he spearheaded the construction of their first building on South West Street in Jacksonville; later in 1984, he joined the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and was named the superintendent for the Jacksonville Developmental Center, where he served for many years; prior to his retirement, he served as the deputy director of the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, spending much of his efforts traveling Illinois to inspect and improve mental health facilities; and

WHEREAS, In past years, Michael Hurt was active with Grace United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, and Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church; he was committed to numerous mission trips to Haiti, Africa, and the Dominican Republic through the In His Service organization, where he served as a dedicated board member; he also served as a board chair and director at Passavant Area Hospital, a volunteer scouter, and an Elks Little League volunteer; he was a former member of the Jacksonville Kiwanis, the Jacksonville AMBUCS, and the Jacksonville Elks Lodge; and

WHEREAS, Michael Hurt enjoyed riding motorcycles with friends if it meant stopping for ice cream; he loved playing card games with friends, rooting for the Illini football and basketball teams, country line dancing, catching the late movie at a local theater, going on long drives with his golden retriever, Marmalade, working in his yard, eating fried fish at dive bars, following Crimsons basketball, and taking last-minute road trips to Busch Stadium followed by purchasing some White Castle cheeseburgers for the ride home; he was proud to own a condo in Costa Rica; and

WHEREAS, Michael Hurt is survived by his wife; his children, Amy (Stuart) Rivers, Matthew (Toni) Hurt, and Kyla Hurt; his grandchildren, Jacob Rivers, Isabella Rivers, Brandon Hurt, Maycee Hurt, and Finnigan Hurt; his sisters, Carole (John) Brandenberg and Becky (Bob) White; and his several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Michael A. Hurt and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Michael Hurt as an expression of our deepest sympathy.