HR0530 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0530 LRB097 13577 KXB 58105 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former State Representative Harry "Bus" Yourell of Oak Lawn, who passed away on September 19, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born in 1919 in Hammond, Indiana and grew up on the South Side of Chicago; he served in the Boy Scouts of America and would hike to spend time at the Boy Scouts camp in Valparaiso, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, He served in World War II and survived being bayonetted by a Japanese soldier; he earned a Bronze Star and 3 Purple Hearts for his service; and

WHEREAS, He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1967 to 1984, serving in the 75th through 83rd General Assemblies; he was the first chairman of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and also served as Chairman of the Election Laws Commission and the County Problems Commission; he also served as Minority Spokesman for the Democrats in the 82nd General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, He also served as the Cook County recorder from 1984 to 1988, 18 years as the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner, was a trustee for the Village of Oak Lawn, and was a former Worth Township supervisor; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife enjoyed traveling around Europe and Asia together; he once kayaked alone from Florida to the Bahamas, as well as paddling up the Amazon River; he bungee-jumped on his 85th birthday in New Zealand and danced all night on his 90th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Harry Yourell was the beloved husband of Millie, nee Evan; the devoted father of Michele (Larry) Collings, Jeffrey (Nancy), and Peter Yourell; the proud grandfather of Darin Collings, Lisa Cleaveland, Jennifer Filipowski, Elizabeth Cataudella, and Ann Yourell; the great-grandfather of Jacob and Megan Collings, Lili and Pierce Cleaveland, Madison Yourell, and Steven Cataudella; the loving brother of the late Geraldine (the late Matthew) Stern; and the fond uncle of Harry Wolper; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and former colleagues, the passing of Harry "Bus" Yourell; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of former State Representative Harry "Bus" Yourell as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.