SR0702 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0702 LRB096 21469 KXB 38029 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jeffrey S. Hawkinson of Peoria, who passed away on February 26, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Galesburg on Aug. 31, 1946, the son of Jack and Marcia (Nelson) Hawkinson; he married Cathi Cheney Cornish in Chicago on May 7, 1987; after graduating from Galesburg High School in 1964, Jeff began his long list of "making a difference"; and

WHEREAS, As president of the Student Senate at Bradley University, Jeff marched with NAACP President John Gwynn in support of civil rights from Bradley to Peoria's City Hall in 1967 in protest over a city ordinance regarding off-campus housing for black students; the ordinance was amended; he also was station and program manager for campus radio station WRBU, president of Pi Kappa Delta, an honorary speech society, associate judge of the campus supreme court, junior class student senate, and a varsity debater; and

WHEREAS, He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bradley University in 1968, where he also received his Master's in Communications in 1971; his first job out of college was at WMBD-AM; from there he went on to WXCL-AM as a newscaster; his radio career included being the only reporter to talk to Eddie Blakes on the scene of the hostage and shooting incident at St. Cecilia Grade School in 1973, and he would later testify at his trial; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, Jeff taught broadcast news at Illinois State University, where he founded the nationally recognized student news program, TV-10; at its 30th anniversary in 2004, Illinois State University honored Jeff with its TV-10 Founders Award, which annually recognizes the top TV-10 senior; from 1975 to 1986, "Hawk" held positions as assignment editor, news director, and broadcast manager at WEEK-TV; and

WHEREAS, From 1978 to 2002, Jeff was the pronouncer of the televised Scripps Spelling Bee; from 1986 to 2002, he was national spokesperson, annual report coordinator, and anchor of "Background News" at Caterpillar Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Jeff and Cathi were honored with the United Way's Hoot Gibson Award for volunteer efforts; it was the first time the award had been given to a couple; Jeff also was presented with the Salvation Army's William Booth Award for Community Service in 2005; the award is the highest civilian award given by the Salvation Army; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Jeffrey Hawkinson is survived by his wife, Cathi; his sons, Matt (Kristen) Hawkinson and Brett (Kathy) Cornish; his daughters, Julie (Andy) McClure and Brigit (Tim) Grunow; his four adorable grandchildren, Addison and Devan McClure and Bailey and Beau Grunow; and his brothers, Chris (Linda) Hawkinson and Joel (Sandy) Hawkinson; therefore, be it

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

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jeffrey Hawkinson as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.