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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Bennett James Williams of Litchfield, who
4passed away on January 20, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bennett Williams was born in Harrisburg to Thomas
6and Marie (Maynard) Williams on February 13, 1925; he served as
7a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945 during
8World War II; he spent 16 months overseas and participated in
9air strikes in the Pacific Theater at the Solomon Islands,
10Bougainville, New Hebrides, and Samar; he was honorably
11discharged on November 16, 1945; he married Evanell Meler on
12April 2, 1946 and his family moved to Litchfield in 1955; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Bennett Williams was a lifelong coal miner; he
14worked at the Crown I Mine in Farmersville until it closed in
151971, and then went on to work at the Coffeen Mine until its
16closing in 1983; he was very active in the United Mine Workers
17of America (UMWA) for over 70 years, where he held offices and
18was most recently president of the political action committee,
19Compac; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Bennett Williams was very active in Democratic
21politics and assisted, chaired, co-chaired, and supported many
22political campaigns; he joined the American Legion in 1945,

 

 

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1where he served as commander, county commander, and vice
2commander finance officer, and was recently awarded a
3certificate for 70 years of continuous service; he was also a
4member of the Color Guard of Post #436, 40 et 8, VFW Post
5#3912, and the Prairieland Leathernecks; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Bennett Williams was an alderman for the City of
7Litchfield for 16 years from 1967 to 1983; he was mayor pro-tem
8for six months and chairman of the fire and lake departments;
9he was a member of the Economic Development Council for over 30
10years and was an emeritus member; he also served as president
11of the Litchfield Red Cross Chapter for 10 years and
12coordinated blood drives with his wife; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Bennett Williams was an avid outdoorsman and
14traveled all over the U.S. and Canada to hunt, fish, white
15water raft, and ski; he loved working on his garden, growing
16vegetables and flowers, and took great pride in his home and
17landscape; he was a member of the St. Timothy United Methodist
18Church, Litchfield Moose Lodge #1634, and Disabled American
19Veterans; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Bennett Williams was preceded in death by his
21parents and his wife of 63 years, Evanell; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Bennett Williams is survived by his daughter,

 

 

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1Sandra Klein; his son, James Gregory (Susan) Williams; his
2grandchildren, Benjamin Colt Fletcher and Haley Marie
3Williams; his great-grandson, Thomas James Abner; and many
4nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
6ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
7Bennett James Williams, and extend our sincere condolences to
8his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11presented to the family of Bennett Williams as an expression of
12our deepest sympathy.