SR0657 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0657 LRB099 12751 GRL 36556 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James H. Cross of Champaign, who passed away on June 1, 2015; and

WHEREAS, James Cross was born on January 11, 1943 in Urbana; his parents were Everett and Lillian Cross; he married Linda K. Sawyer on January 9, 1965; and

WHEREAS, James Cross served his country as a member of the United States National Guard; and

WHEREAS, James Cross graduated from Urbana High School in 1961; after high school, he went to work for his father at the H.S. Grindley Company, where he delivered, installed, and fixed appliances; and

WHEREAS, In 1970, James Cross joined the Champaign Fire Department, where he served as a firefighter for almost 30 years until his retirement in 1999 at the rank of lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement, James Cross expanded Huber's West End, a store he purchased in 1989 so that he would have "something to do" on his days off from the fire department; he also expanded his car collection and enjoyed all kinds of cars, from roadsters to speedsters to touring cars; he was also a fixture in Champaign-Urbana's 4th of July Parade, winning awards every year for his beautifully restored cars; and

WHEREAS, James Cross is survived by his wife, Linda; 2 children, Melissa Hildreth and Chris Cross; and 5 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of James H. Cross; and be it further

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