SR0176 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0176 LRB098 11511 GRL 43680 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ernie Russell; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell was born on July 20, 1938, in Peoria; his parents were Earl W. and Mary Jane Moore Russell; he married Sara Warrington in Peoria in 1961; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell was raised in Lacon and graduated from Mid-County High School in Varna; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell served in the United States Navy at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a corpsman from 1956 to 1959; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Illinois State University in 1973 and his master's degree in public administration from Sangamon State University in 1975; he also earned his associate's degree in fire science from Illinois Central College; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell was a proud member of the Peoria Firefighters IAFF Local 50 before being promoted through the ranks to the Peoria Fire Department Administration; he ultimately served as Chief of the Peoria Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell served as the city liaison during the construction of the Fire Training Academy on Galena Road and the construction of the Fire Central Station at Bryant and Monroe in Peoria; he served as Training Chief and Fire Prevention Chief during his tenure; he was named Chief of the Peoria Fire Department in 1994, where he remained until 2001, when he was appointed to the position of State Fire Marshal by the Governor of Illinois; he subsequently worked for many years as a consultant with Resource Management Associates of Tinley Park before being hired as the interim Fire Chief of the Village of Oak Lawn in August of 2008, where he served through July of 2009; he later served as the interim Fire Chief in Canton from November of 2010 through June of 2011; and

WHEREAS, In October 2011, Ernie Russell was honored with the title of Fire Chief Emeritus; this title is reserved for retired chiefs who have had distinguished careers and who have made significant contributions that set them apart from their peers; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell ran for election in the Illinois State Senate in the 46th District in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell served on numerous boards and committees in Peoria, including the American Red Cross and the Boys and Girls Club of Peoria, where he also served as president; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell was a board member of the Peoria Area Labor Management Council and invested much of his professional career fostering relationships between labor and management to provide topnotch emergency services not only in Peoria, but in communities across Illinois, making Illinois a safer place to live; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Russell is survived by his wife, Sara; his daughters, Kelley Russell and Joan Ott; his sons-in-law, Bill Ott and Jay Duke; his granddaughters, Katherine Taylor Duke and Isabella Maree Ott; his grandson, Jeremy Russell Ott; his brothers, Raymond Russell and Robert (Jackie) Grieves; his sisters, Crystal Russell and Melody Grieves; and his many cousins, nieces, and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Ernie Russell; and be it further

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