HR1237 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1237 LRB097 23059 GRL 71871 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives have learned with much sadness of the passage of a great friend and special contributor to the history of the Illinois General Assembly, William J. "Bill" O'Connell of Peoria; and

WHEREAS, It would not be an exaggeration or bring an objection from any corner to say that Bill O'Connell is one of a kind, an institutional legend, or an old-time reporter; and

WHEREAS, During his more than 60 years covering politics and government for the Peoria Journal Star, Bill O'Connell was always credited with faithfully keeping his mythical-but-typical readers "Grace and Elmer" fully informed with crisp, unvarnished reporting; he mentored hundreds of journalists young and old from all regions of this State, saving more than a few officials from blunders and never missing an opportunity to help Peoria benefit from every bill that passed through the legislative process; and

WHEREAS, Bill O'Connell received numerous awards and honors during his career, including the 1986 Illinois Journalist of the Year award and awards from the American Political Science Association, the Associated Press, and the Illinois Education Association; and

WHEREAS, While proud of his journalistic achievements, Bill O'Connell did not shy away from the published accounts that also credited him as the inspiration for funding the downstate civic center construction program and with being one of the surest translators of the often incomprehensible dialects spoken by the inhabitants of Chicago, Cook County, and downstate Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Perhaps the true uniqueness of Bill O'Connell's persona was exemplified at the time of his 1996 retirement from the Peoria Journal Star, when Lee A. Daniels, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Michael J. Madigan, House Democratic Leader, cosponsored Bill's retirement resolution during the somewhat tumultuous 89th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, The one-of-a-kind moments continued when Illinois Senate President Philip J. Rock fought foggy weather to reach Springfield and come to the floor of the Illinois Senate to speak and describe Bill O'Connell as "as man whose integrity we should all salute"; and

WHEREAS, During this time of sadness, we ask all who knew and loved Bill O'Connell to remember the happier moments in his life and to reach out in their own way to ask for strength and comfort for his wife, Helen; their children, Kelly, Molly, Tom, Tim, David, and William; their 12 grandchildren; and their 3 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William J. "Bill" O'Connell, offer our deepest sympathies to his families and friends, and affirm that the State of Illinois and its people are better because of his contributions, and fondly remember his great character, wit, and wisdom; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bill O'Connell as an expression of our sympathy.