SR1048 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1048 LRB102 26915 LAW 38058 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Charley "Joey" Moyer of Wilmington, North Carolina, formerly of Alton, who passed away on September 16, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was born with cerebral palsy in Chicago on May 1, 1945; he was immediately adopted by William and Pauline Moyer; he was placed in the former Illinois Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children in Lincoln at the age of two and a half years; he relocated to a foster home in Alton in 1968; while in Alton, he was cared for by Dale and Carol Neudecker for over 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was affectionately known as "Alton's Can Man" for picking up aluminum cans as an additional source of income around Upper Alton every day, no matter the weather; he was well known in the area for his hard work and friendly smile, and he was considered one of Alton's most famous residents; and

WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was determined to live life as normally as possible; after he left the foster home in Alton, he rented a very small apartment off Ninth Street; while there, he was severely beaten by a fellow boarder in 1987; his attack and the ensuing news coverage resulted in then-Governor Jim Thompson enacting the "Joey Bill", which made it a felony to attack a physically handicapped person; he was permitted to sit in Governor Thompson's chair as the governor signed the bill into law on January 13, 1988; and

WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was reunited with his adoptive brothers in 2009, a meeting that he always wanted; and

WHEREAS, Joey Moyer, when he could no longer live on his own, moved to the home of his close friends Roger and Pat Lowery in Wilmington, North Carolina; he then eventually moved to a retirement facility, where he became a checkers master and challenged all comers at his new home; he was very happy during his last few years; and

WHEREAS, Joey Moyer was an exceptional human being of extraordinary perseverance who was loved by all who knew him; 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 Charley "Joey" Moyer 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 Joey Moyer as an expression of our deepest sympathy.