SR0400 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0400 LRB103 33225 MST 63034 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Colonel Earl Edward Rumbaugh Jr. of Danville, who passed away on July 3, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Col. Rumbaugh was born to Earl Edward and Cornelia Payne Rumbaugh on December 22, 1928; he attended Garfield Elementary School and graduated from Danville High School in 1946; he furthered his education at Loyola University New Orleans; and

WHEREAS, Col. Rumbaugh attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, beginning his career as an Army officer; he served in the Korean War, the Berlin Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis and did two tours of duty in Vietnam; he received numerous awards throughout his 32-year-long career, including three Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge; and

WHEREAS, Col. Rumbaugh served as a police officer for Danville from 1954 to 1959; he also served on the Danville Traffic Commission, the Chamber of Commerce Safety Committee, the Center for Children's Services for six years, the Vermilion County Merit Commission from 1994 to 2020, and the YMCA Board for six years; and

WHEREAS, Col. Rumbaugh was a member of the Association of the United States Army, the Military Officers Association of America, American Legion Post 210, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge 232, the Danville Boat Club, the Danville Country Club, and the Corvette Cruisers; he hosted Cooking with the Colonial on the WDAN show from 1990 to 1996 and was inducted to the Wall of Honor at the Kenneth D. Bailey Academy; and

WHEREAS, Col. Rumbaugh was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, AnnaMarie Freeman and Wilma Minor; and his siblings, Glenn Covert, Anna Jane Catlett, Marigene Hutton, and Marjorie Carter; and

WHEREAS, Col. Rumbaugh is survived by his companion of 23 years, Karen Wodetzki; his nephews, James M. Covert and Newel Young Jr. and wife, Paulette Guiliani Young; his niece, Cathy Carter Tomason; and his stepdaughters, Deborah Amata, Denise Amata, and Diana Browning; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Colonel Earl Edward Rumbaugh Jr. and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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