HR0585 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois suffered a great loss when beloved son Richard "Dick" Locher passed away on August 6, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher was born in Dubuque Iowa in 1929; with an affinity for art, Locher earned a degree from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher had a rich and diverse career, which included serving as a test pilot for the U.S. Air Force for two years, followed by another 18 years in the Air Force Reserves; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher worked as an assistant to Rick Yager, who, at the time, was drawing the comic Buck Rogers of the 25th Century; he then went on to work as Gilbert "Chester" Gould's assistant, and was introduced to the comic strip detective Dick Tracy, a character with which Locher would become synonymous later in life; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher began working as an editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune in 1973; he remained on the Tribune's staff until 2013 and created more than 10,000 cartoons; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1983, primarily for a Tribune cartoon featuring President Ronald Reagan; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher, along with his son John, resumed regular drawing of the Dick Tracy comic strip in 1983; he continued to draw the Dick Tracy comic strip until 2009 and wrote the storyline until 2011; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher called Naperville home since 1969, and he was a beloved member of the community; he left a lasting legacy, including designing the nine-foot-tall statue of Dick Tracy, which is located on the Naperville Riverwalk, and the bronze statue of Naperville's founder, Joe Naper, which stands at the site of Naper's homestead; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher also worked with former Naperville Mayor George Pradel to incorporate the Dick Tracy character into Naperville Police Department campaigns; Locher was also actively involved in Naperville Community Radio Watch and Crime Stoppers. In 1984, the FBI National Academy Associates of Illinois named Locher an "Outstanding Citizen of the Year" for his crime-fighting efforts; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher also designed the Land of Lincoln Trophy, modeled after Lincoln's famous stovepipe hat, which is awarded annually to the winner of the Northwestern University versus University of Illinois football game; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher also made giving back to his community a priority; he donated start-up funds for the John Locher Art Gallery at Naperville North High School, in memory of his son, John, who passed in 1986; he also volunteered with art students at the College of DuPage; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher, a talented artist in many mediums, donated much of his art to local charities and gave generously of his time to fans, especially children with an interest in art or comics; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher passed at the age of 88; he is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary; his son Steve; his daughter Jana Evans; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; and

WHEREAS, Dick Locher's friend, current Chicago Tribune editorial cartoonist Scott Stanis, said, "Now we live in a world without Dick Locher in it, and it's a darker place without this bright light"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that members of the House wish to express our deepest condolences to Dick Locher's family, and we wish to celebrate the life and contributions of this true Illinois icon; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Locher family as an expression of our esteem and respect.