SR1005 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1005 LRB103 40777 MST 73616 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Willis Gamble Johnson of Downers Grove, who passed away on August 16, 2023 at the age of 86; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson was a lifelong resident of Downers Grove and was born to Elizabeth Gable and Willis "Abbot" Johnson on January 11, 1937; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson graduated from Downers Grove Community High School in 1955 and continued his education at Western Michigan University, graduating in 1959; early in his career, he served as a sergeant in the Army National Guard before working at International Harvester as a time study engineer; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson founded Johnson Printers with his brother, Ross, before becoming co-founder and president of Classic Cinemas/Tivoli Enterprises, which has grown to include 16 theater locations, including the historic Tivoli in Downers Grove; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson's strong work ethic and relentless dedication helped grow Classic Cinemas into the largest movie theater chain based in Illinois; he adored restoring old buildings and converting them into valuable additions to the surrounding community; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson always prioritized community involvement and was very active in business, historic, and civic organizations in Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Oak Park, and other towns where he owned theaters; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson received countless honors for his service, including being inducted into the Elmhurst Civic Hall of Fame in 2002 and being chosen as Downers Grove Citizen of the Year in 2010; he and his wife, Shirley, were honored by the Downers Grove Historical Society as Historians of the Year in 2023 and were featured in a documentary film entitled History Happens Here: The Tivoli Theater; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson was proud to have his son, Chris, continue the legacy of the company he helped build; he also served as a past president of the National Association of Theater Owners of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In his youth, Willis Johnson loved cars and was known around town for his sky blue 1937 Ford with a white leather interior, a car which he fixed and customized; in his later years, he appreciated the beauty of flowers, frequently incorporating landscaping along theater entries, parking lots, and his own yard; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson enjoyed weekends at Lake Holiday with his family and had an extensive collection of Lego sets that he liked to build in his spare time; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson was preceded in death by his sister, Sara Homberg, and his brother-in-law, Robert Griffin; and

WHEREAS, Willis Johnson is survived by his wife of 46 years, Shirley; his children, Stephen Johnson, Kay Johnson, Chris Johnson, Wendy Leick, and Amy Balicki; his stepchildren, Mary Reichl and Richard Winters; and his 14 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Willis Gamble Johnson 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 Willis Johnson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.