SR0689 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0689 LRB098 14742 GRL 49632 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John P. Meyer of Danville, who passed away on October 31, 2013; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer was born on August 17, 1920; his parents were Frank P. and Frances Clare (nee Brady) Meyer; he married Barbara (nee Martin) Cullen in 1942; he married Mertyce (nee Erickson) Fagot in 1969; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer attended Washington Grade School and St. Patrick's Grade School before graduating from Danville High School in 1937; he subsequently attended the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor of science in commerce and a doctor of laws degree from the Notre Dame Law School; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer served with the 14th Armored Division (The Liberators) as an Artillery Forward Observer during World War II; he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action; he was discharged in 1946 at the rank of captain; following his discharge, he served as adjutant general of the 14th Armored Division; and

WHEREAS, After being admitted to the Illinois Bar, John Meyer practiced law in the Vermilion, Sangamon, and Cook County areas for more than 55 years until his retirement in 2003; after practicing in the firm of Burke, Twomey, and Johnson, he started a partnership with Henry Wise and Thomas Graham; the firm later added Charles Young, Daniel Welsh, and Paul Maton to become Graham, Wise, Meyer, Young, Welsh, and Maton; he was later admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and won an important antitrust case before the Court; after retiring, he officed with his son, Chris, in the law firm named Dukes, Ryan, Meyer and Freed, Ltd.; he also served as first assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer was elected to and served in the Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate; while in the House and Senate, he introduced and passed legislation creating a public defender's office for downstate Illinois and was an architect of the Fair Employment Practices Act; he served as chairman of the Legislative Commission on Narcotic Drugs and introduced and passed legislation creating State funding of Illinois Community Colleges, including Danville Area Community College; he also served as a judge of the circuit court for the Fifth Judicial Circuit; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer was the recipient of the Thomas J. Crowe Interracial Justice Award; he was also chosen as a First Citizen of Danville in 1987; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer was an active member of his community; he participated in youth football, the Museum Society, the United Way, the Schlarman Foundation, the Danville Dans, and his pet project, The Christian Home for Youth, which assisted in the rehabilitation of juveniles who came before the Juvenile Court; he was also a member of St. Paul's Church, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks Club, the Danville Country Club, the Illinois Judges Association, and the Vermilion County and American Bar Associations; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer and his wife purchased, sold, and raced thoroughbred horses, some of whom were winners of races in Florida, Kentucky, and Illinois; he was also the author of the popular book, "Observations of an Elderly Gentleman"; and

WHEREAS, John Meyer is survived by his children, John P. (Toni) Meyer, Jr., Marilyn (Rudy) Manfredi, Elizabeth (Russell) Elam, Michael Meyer, Melinda (David) Jankowski, and Christopher P. (Susan) Meyer; his stepson, Robert "Rob" (Kathy) Fagot; his 11 grandchildren; his 13 great-grandchildren; and 7 step-grandchildren; therefore, be it

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

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