SR0871LRB100 13871 ALS 28597 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Gene Franklin Smedley, of Bloomington, 
4who passed away on August 9, 2017; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Gene Smedley was born in Waverly to Roscoe B. and 
6Mae (Lucas) Smedley on February 21, 1921; he graduated from 
7Pekin High School; he received a bachelor's degree in history 
8from Illinois College; he proudly served in the United States 
9Navy during World War II as a commander of a supply ship; upon 
10his discharge from the Navy, he earned a Master of Science in 
11Journalism from Columbia University; he married Eileen McCann 
12on December 19, 1945; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Gene Smedley began working for The Daily 
14Pantagraph in Bloomington in 1948; he covered the Illinois 
15General Assembly and was eventually promoted to the position of 
16managing editor, from which he retired in 1982; he won numerous 
17awards from the Associated Press and the United Press 
18International; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Gene Smedley loved singing; he participated in the 
20SPEBSQSA Barbershop Quartet and Chorus in Bloomington; his 
21quartet won an international award in California in the 1950s; 
22he could always be heard singing to his family and friends; his 
 
 
SR0871- 2 -LRB100 13871 ALS 28597 r

1passion was traveling the world every chance he got; he was a 
2longtime Chicago Cubs fan and was overjoyed when they won the 
3World Series; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Gene Smedley was preceded in death by his wife; 
5his parents; and his six siblings, Glenn, Merle, Delmar, Ted, 
6Betty, and Helen; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Gene Smedley is survived by his children, Michael 
8James (Leona) Smedley and Mary Ann (Ron) Dillman; his 
9grandchildren, Todd Smedley, Makayla Smedley, and Erik 
10Dillman; his great-grandchildren, Carmen Dillman and Connor 
11Dillman; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14Gene Franklin Smedley, and extend our sincere condolences to 
15his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Gene Smedley as an expression of our 
19deepest sympathy.