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| | SR0502 | | LRB104 16108 ECR 29420 r |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, REO Speedwagon is recognized as a defining |
| 3 | | Midwest rock band, influencing music history and culture while |
| 4 | | representing the spirit of its Illinois roots; and
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| 5 | | WHEREAS, REO Speedwagon was founded in 1967 by Neal |
| 6 | | Doughty and Alan Gratzer, who met at the University of |
| 7 | | Illinois Urbana-Champaign the year prior; inspired by a |
| 8 | | transportation history class, the band's name comes from the |
| 9 | | REO Speedwagon, a 1915 truck designed by Ransom Eli Olds; and
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| 10 | | WHEREAS, REO Speedwagon began performing at campus events |
| 11 | | and local bars, quickly igniting a passionate following that |
| 12 | | grew into national acclaim; the band's electrifying presence |
| 13 | | and relentless touring soon led to packed arenas and theaters |
| 14 | | coast to coast, marking the rise of a legendary Illinois-born |
| 15 | | rock phenomenon; and
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| 16 | | WHEREAS, REO Speedwagon gained national attention in the |
| 17 | | 1970s with a string of successful albums and many energetic |
| 18 | | live performances, and the band's songs dominated FM radio |
| 19 | | during the 1980s; the group continued to electrify audiences |
| 20 | | well into the 21st century, sustaining a devoted fan base |
| 21 | | across generations; and
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| | SR0502 | - 2 - | LRB104 16108 ECR 29420 r |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, REO Speedwagon was inducted into the inaugural |
| 2 | | class of the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, a |
| 3 | | historic center dedicated to preserving and celebrating the |
| 4 | | rich musical legacy of the Prairie State, on June 11, 2021; as |
| 5 | | a trailblazer of Midwest rock, the band's induction honors its |
| 6 | | profound influence on American music history, its enduring |
| 7 | | connection to Illinois, and its role in shaping the sound and |
| 8 | | spirit of generations; and
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| 9 | | WHEREAS, REO Speedwagon honored its extraordinary legacy |
| 10 | | with a final concert performance in June 2025, commemorating |
| 11 | | nearly six decades of global impact and musical excellence; |
| 12 | | and
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| 13 | | WHEREAS, From their humble beginnings in Champaign to |
| 14 | | their rise as icons of American rock, the members of REO |
| 15 | | Speedwagon proudly carried the spirit of Illinois to stages |
| 16 | | around the world, forever linking their band to the cultural |
| 17 | | heartbeat and musical legacy of the State; therefore, be it
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| 18 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL |
| 19 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize rock band |
| 20 | | REO Speedwagon on its nearly six decades of legendary musical |
| 21 | | and cultural impact in the State of Illinois and across the |
| 22 | | world; and be it further
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