HR0628 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0628 LRB096 14676 GRL 29520 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Francis John Taylor of Virginia, who passed away on September 19, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Francis Taylor was born on June 26, 1923 in Springfield; he was the son of John H. and Edna E. (Taylor) Taylor; he married Dorothy Loring on November 28, 1953 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church near Rushville; and

WHEREAS, Francis Taylor graduated from Virginia High School in 1940; he then earned his degree in agricultural economics from the University of Minnesota in 1945; after graduation, he briefly worked at General Mills prior to beginning his farming career; and

WHEREAS, Francis Taylor formerly served as president of the Beardstown Jaycees, president of the Illinois Jaycees, and vice president of the U.S. Jaycees; in 1961, he was appointed to the Illinois State Fair Board and later served as an assistant to the Illinois Director of Agriculture; from 1964 until 1968, he worked as an assistant to Illinois Governors Otto Kerner and Sam Shapiro; he later served as an assistant to U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson from 1970 to 1980; and

WHEREAS, Francis Taylor formerly served on the Jacksonville Journal-Courier's editorial board; he volunteered for several water and wetlands committees and advisory boards, which included his election to the position of president of the Illinois Valley Flood Control Association; in addition, he served as one of the members of the 20-member National Wetlands Policy Advisory Board, which was chaired by New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean; and

WHEREAS, Francis Taylor was a life member of the Illinois State Historical Society and served two terms as a director of the organization; he was on the advisory board of the Lincoln legal papers; he served two terms as a trustee for Lincoln College in Lincoln and volunteered as a director of the Cass County Historical and Genealogical Society; he was also a member of the Chandlerville Lodge 724 A.F. & A.M. and the Ansar Shrine Temple in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, Francis Taylor was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his brother, Cheslea Taylor; and his sister, Marjorie Taylor; and

WHEREAS, Francis Taylor is survived by his nephews, C. Charles Taylor (wife, Judy), Henry Chandler Taylor, and William J. Taylor (wife, Teri); his several great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews; and his sister-in-law, Mary Louise; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Francis John Taylor; and be it further

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