SR0049 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0049 LRB104 09640 LAW 19706 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former Mayor of Charleston and Brigadier General Roscoe McDaniel "Dan" Cougill, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), who passed away on January 18, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Brig. Gen. Cougill, the son of Oral and Emaline (Vaughn) Cougill, was born in Charleston on October 24, 1941; he graduated from Charleston High School in 1959; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Eastern Illinois University in 1963; he married Sallie A. Carrow in Robinson on February 15, 1969; he earned his Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama in 1976; and

WHEREAS, Brig. Gen. Cougill taught math in Byron for a year before joining the U.S. Air Force in August 1964; he graduated from Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas in November 1964; he took his first military assignment with Strategic Air Command at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas; after completing the Basic Communications Officer Course at Keesler AFB, Mississippi in December 1965, he was assigned to the 825th Communications Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, where he served as chief of operations and launch enable systems control officer on the Titan missile system; he transferred to the 392nd Communications Squadron as chief of operations at Vandenberg AFB, California in June 1967; he became chief of operations for the 27th Communications Squadron at Andersen AFB, Guam in July 1968, with additional duties as officer-in-charge of two operating air base locations at Da Nang and Bien Hoa, the Republic of Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Upon completion of the Communications Staff Officer Course at Keesler AFB, Mississippi in February 1971, Brig. Gen. Cougill assumed command of the 2052nd Communications Squadron; he was assigned as an action officer in July 1973, where he was responsible for European plans in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Air Force Communications Service Headquarters at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri; after graduating from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in July 1976, he was assigned to U.S. Air Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C., first serving as an action officer for mobile communications and war plans before then serving as executive officer in the Directorate of Command, Control and Telecommunications; and

WHEREAS, Brig. Gen. Cougill graduated from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in July 1981; he then assumed command of the 2179th Communications Group at Patrick AFB, Florida; in June 1983, he became executive officer of the Command, Control and Communications Division, International Military Staff, NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium; he returned to the United States as deputy director for plans, policy and programming, Assistant Chief of Staff, Information Systems, Air Force Headquarters in July 1985, becoming director in July 1986; he was assigned chief of staff of Air Force Communications Command Headquarters at Scott AFB, Illinois in October 1986; he became deputy assistant chief of staff under Systems for Command, Control, Communications and Computers at Air Force Headquarters in May 1988; in his final assignment, he served as director under General H. Norman Schwarzkopf of Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems, U.S. Central Command at MacDill AFB, Florida in May 1989; in that position, he organized the largest "from-scratch" communications buildup in history, an accomplishment that successfully integrated the communications networks of all U.S. military branches, as well as those of the multinational coalition, for the first time, contributing to the overwhelming military success of Operation Desert Storm; he was promoted to brigadier general on September 1, 1989, retiring in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Brig. Gen. Cougill received a number of decorations and awards during his military career, including the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal; and

WHEREAS, Upon his retirement, Brig. Gen. Cougill returned to Charleston, the community that raised him, where he honorably served as mayor for three terms; and

WHEREAS, Brig. Gen. Cougill was a member of Charleston Baptist Church and VFW Post 1592; he deeply loved music and was a member of the Charleston Community Band; in his free time, he enjoyed tending to his wooded property south of town and befriending the many deer, birds, and other "critters" who lived there; he also adored visiting with his grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Brig. Gen. Cougill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Susan Cougill; and

WHEREAS, Brig. Gen. Cougill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sallie A. Cougill; his sons, Andrew A. (Elizabeth) Cougill and Christopher M. (Ann) Cougill; four grandchildren; and his sister, Sarah Cougill; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former Mayor of Charleston and Brigadier General Roscoe McDaniel "Dan" Cougill, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) 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 Brig. Gen. Cougill as an expression of our deepest sympathy.