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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of James Eugene "Jim" Kidder of Dunlap, 
4who passed away on April 15, 2025; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jim Kidder was born in Edgerton, Wisconsin to 
6Earl A. and Louise (Maas) Kidder on August 19, 1940; he 
7attended Merrifield Grade School and Milton High School, where 
8he was influenced by his band teacher who encouraged him to 
9continue to play trumpet; he graduated from Illinois Wesleyan 
10University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education; he 
11earned a Master of Science in School Administration from 
12Bradley University; while teaching band in Lacon, Illinois, he 
13met his future wife, Floride "Ede" Barnes, and they married on 
14June 6, 1965; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Jim Kidder began his career in retail music in 
161965 by joining Byerly Music as a roadman, calling on schools 
17and learning about what helped to build successful programs; a 
18lifelong advocate for music education, he and Ede founded 
19Kidder Music Service in 1971, which celebrated its 50th 
20anniversary in 2024; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Jim Kidder was involved in both national and 
22local organizations; he was on the board of the National 
 
 
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1Association of Music Merchants and the board of the National 
2Association of School Music Dealers, where he served as 
3president in 2004 and 2005; he was also on the board of the 
4Peoria Symphony and the Peoria Symphony Foundation, the 
5Heartland Festival Orchestra, and the Wheels of Time Museum; 
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Jim Kidder loved playing trumpet in the Peoria 
8Area Senior Citizens Band; he never said no when someone asked 
9him to do something and never met a stranger; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Jim Kidder is survived by his wife, Ede; his 
11children, Beth (Jay) Houlihan and Edelstein and Matthew 
12Kidder; and his grandchildren, Maggie Ann Kidder, Jason 
13Gaughan, Hannah DeBernardi, and Robert Houlihan; therefore, be 
14it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
17James Eugene "Jim" Kidder and extend our sincere condolences 
18to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be 
19it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
21presented to the family of Jim Kidder as an expression of our 
22deepest sympathy.