HJ0138 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0138 LRB099 21072 MST 46227 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Officer Francis Scot Fitzgerald who passed away on March 5, 2016, at the age of 32; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald was born in Springfield on November 29, 1983; he was the son of Clarence Francis and Becky Fitzgerald, and brother of Cody Fitzgerald; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald married Danielle Lee Suttles of Murrayville on May 27, 2006 and they had two children, Colton Francis and Fynlee Elizabeth; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald was a member of the Murrayville United Methodist Church; he devoted his life to public service as an officer with the South Jacksonville Police Department, past Scott County Sheriff's Deputy, with the Winchester and Bluffs police offices, and as an EMT for the Murrayville-Woodson EAS and Winchester EMS; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald served as a volunteer firefighter for the Murrayville Fire District, a member of the Morgan County 911 Board, and had been recently selected as a member of the Special Response Team in Morgan County; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald loved being a police officer, firefighter, and EMT, but above all else, he was a loving husband, father, son, and brother; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald was said to be not only a friend, but an "awesome family man", and someone who was willing to do anything for anybody and could be counted on in any situation; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald saved a woman's life when she was mauled by a dog because he knew the right medical procedures, and he professionally performed his sworn duty to protect and serve; and

WHEREAS, The community mourns the loss of a close friend, family member, and community hero; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald was preceded in death by his two grandfathers, Clarence Fitzgerald, Jr. and Clark Hye Leesman; and

WHEREAS, Officer Fitzgerald is survived by his wife, Danielle; his children, Colton Francis and Fynlee Elizabeth; his parents, Francis and Becky Fitzgerald; his brother, Cody Fitzgerald; his grandparents, Mary Lou Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Ann Leesman; and his father and mother-in-law, William and Darlene Suttles; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of Illinois Route 267 as it runs between Interstate 72 and Nortonville Road as the "Officer Scot Fitzgerald Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "Officer Scot Fitzgerald Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Officer Fitzgerald, Secretary of the Department of Transportation Randall S. Blankenhorn, South Jacksonville Mayor Steven L. Waltrip, and the South Jacksonville Police Department.