SR1306 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1306 LRB099 15679 MST 39974 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joseph W. "Joe" Phebus of Naples, Florida, who passed away on November 21, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Joe Phebus was born in Champaign on February 13, 1940 to Darius and Frances Phebus; he went to school in Urbana and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in metallurgical engineering in 1962; he was an officer in the United States Army from August 13, 1962 to November 19, 1964 and was in the active reserve from November 19, 1964 to July 30, 1969; his last assignment was the 12th Special Forces Group Airborne; after serving in the army, he returned to the University Of Illinois College Of Law, where he graduated in 1968 and received the Scholastic Award of Order of the Coif; and

WHEREAS, Joe Phebus was a partner in the Phebus and Koester Law Firm (formerly Phebus and Winkelmann and, before that, Phebus, Tummelson, Bryan and Knox) from 1971 to the present time; he was recognized in Illinois Super Lawyers (Crain's Chicago Magazine) in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, and as an Illinois Top 100 Lawyers in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Joe Phebus was an Alderman for the City of Urbana from 1968 to 1971 and Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Urbana in 1971; he was also a member of the American Arbitration Association; he was Visual Information Technologies' Co-founder and Director from 2005 to 2015, the Western Lion Limited Chairman of the Board from 1982 to 1991, the Cable Communications Co-founder and Director from 1972 to 1982, and part owner of the cable franchise for Champaign-Urbana; and

WHEREAS, Joe Phebus was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Joe Phebus is survived by his wife of 35 years, Carolyn; his 4 sons, Michael (Heidi) Campbell, John (Janice) Campbell, John Phebus, and Doug (Brenda) Phebus; his 9 grandchildren, Jennifer Campbell, Joey Campbell, Jack Campbell, Katie Campbell, Robert Campbell, Chris Campbell, Natalie Phebus, Ian Phebus, and Will Phebus; his brother, William (Nancy) Phebus; and his 2 sisters, Margaret (Larry) Moore and Mary (Dick) Killey; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joseph W. "Joe" Phebus, 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 Joe Phebus as an expression of our deepest sympathy.