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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General 
3Assembly pays honor and respect to individuals who have given 
4their lives in service to their communities; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Special Agent Virgil Lee Bensyl was shot and 
6killed on January 15, 1988 while he and four other agents 
7attempted to arrest a corrections officer for conspiracy to 
8commit murder; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Special Agent Bensyl served with the U.S. Marines 
10during the Vietnam War; he joined the Illinois State Police on 
11July 14, 1969 and served in District 10 (Pesotum) until 1984 
12when he graduated from New Agents Class #4; he was then 
13assigned to Zone 10; and
 
14    WHEREAS, On April 29, 1988, District 10 Headquarters was 
15re-dedicated in honor of Special Agent Bensyl; and
 
16    WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Special Agent Bensyl 
17was survived by his wife and son; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF 
20REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate 
 
 
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1Interstate 57 as it travels from Pesotum to Champaign as the 
2"ISP Special Agent V. Lee Bensyl Memorial Highway"; and be it 
3further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation 
5is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with 
6State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs 
7giving notice of the name of "ISP Special Agent V. Lee Bensyl 
8Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That we rescind the directive in Senate Joint 
10Resolution 16 of the 102nd General Assembly that designates 
11Illinois State Route 51 in Oconee after Special Agent Bensyl; 
12and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
14presented to the family of Special Agent Bensyl and the 
15Secretary of Transportation.