SR0661 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0661 LRB094 19707 HSS 56255 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death Richard "Dick" Lawless of Bartonville on February 16, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Born on October 23, 1920, in Peoria, Richard Lawless was the son of Harry P. and Anna Wolf Lawless; he was a 1939 graduate of Manual Training High School, where he was an all-conference athlete in basketball and baseball; and

WHEREAS, In 1942, Mr. Lawless entered the United State Naval Air Corps and was commissioned as a naval aviator at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida; he served as an instrument flight instructor during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946; and

WHEREAS, He married Lucille Marie Dancy on April 29, 1944, in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lawless was a lifelong member of the United Association of Steamfitters Local 353 for 65 years, where he served as business agent, business manager, and apprentice coordinator; during his career, he established the Steamfitters Apprentice Program, playing a leading role in creating the training school; he was an instructor and a mentor to apprentice steamfitters for over four decades; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, he received the coveted Francis X. McCartin Citizen Leadership Hawk on the Rock Award from the United Association; he was awarded the Tri-County Construction (TRI-CON) Person of the Year award in 2003 in recognition of his many contributions to labor-management relations in the Central Illinois construction industry; in 2005, he received the Citizens Award for Dedicated Service to Illinois Law Enforcement Agencies from the Peoria County Association of Chiefs of Police; and

WHEREAS, He was a co-founder of Lawless Plumbing and Heating Company with his younger brother, Robert; he served on the Peoria County Sheriffs Merit Commission for 35 years, including 24 years as the commission vice chairman; he retired in January of 2006; he was also a member of the Illinois Sheriff Association; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Bartonville; Bartonville American Legion Post 979; the Peoria AMVETS Post 64; the Knights of Columbus, St. Jude Council; and the BPOE Lodge 20; he was a lifelong outdoor sportsman and cherished the deeply valued friendships he forged and sustained for over 40 years with fellow members of the Briney-Hamm Duck Hunters Association of Bluff City, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Richard Lawless has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Lucille Lawless; his sons, Richard P. Lawless Jr. and Robert M. Lawless; his three grandchildren; and his three nieces; he was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert Bob Lawless; and his sister, Elizabeth (Lawless) Janssen; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard "Dick" Lawless, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our sincere condolences.