HR1565 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1565 LRB096 24626 KXB 44472 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of John "Tex" Calvert of Carterville, who passed away on December 14, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born July 9, 1945, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to Cecil and Rachel Calvert; he married Brenda Pavloff on June 7, 1975; and

WHEREAS, The colorful Carterville man, "John" or "Johnny" to Crainville folk and "Tex" to nearly everyone else, grew up in Crainville and graduated from Carterville High School in 1963; he was a two-degree graduate of Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; and

WHEREAS, He taught fifth and sixth grades in Carterville and Herrin for 33 years; he retired in 2001 and later returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher; he was an active member of Carterville First Baptist Church, where he worked with the youth, taught Sunday school, and had several other roles of leadership over the years; he was a deacon for more than 35 years, including several terms as chairman; and

WHEREAS, He served on the board of directors for the Illinois Baptist State Association for 7 years and on the executive committee of the Williamson County Baptist Association for 20 years; along with his wife he organized Bible drills for children throughout Southern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, He was a familiar face in the Southern Illinois sports community; he served as the basketball scorekeeper at Carterville High School for 51 years and at John A. Logan College for 32 years; he was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a "Friend of Basketball"; he led the football chain gang at Carterville High School for 35 years and at SIU for 30 years; in his early years, he also umpired baseball; and

WHEREAS, He was a regular caller to Sports Voice, the sports radio show; with his family, he travelled extensively, visiting every state in the continental United States and 10 Canadian provinces; he especially enjoyed the Hemlock Inn in Bryson City, North Carolina, Newfoundland, and Door County, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, John "Tex" Calvert is survived by his wife, Brenda; his sons and daughters-in-law, Wesley and Brandy Calvert and Winston and Amanda Calvert; his grandchildren, Gideon and Josiah and Jasper; he was looking forward to the birth of a granddaughter in January; he is also survived by his sister, Jane Stalker, and her husband, Jim; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of John Calvert; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of John "Tex" Calvert as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.