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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Harry George Meadows, who passed away on
4April 7, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Harry Meadows was born in Chicago to W. R. "Bob"
6and Edna (Gahagan) Meadows on April 25, 1921; he attended St.
7Laurence Grade School, Abbott Junior High School, Elgin High
8School, and graduated from the Elgin Academy in 1939; he
9graduated from Lake Forest College in 1944 and married Ruth
10Anderson; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Harry Meadows joined the U.S. Navy at the
12beginning of World War II and received midshipman officer's
13training at Tower Hall in Chicago, Wabash College, and Columbia
14University; he honorably served as the executive officer,
15Lieutenant Jr. Grade, aboard the Mobile Explosives
16Investigation Unit ship, YP 421, in the Pacific Theater from
171944 to 1946; he was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, the
18WWII Victory Ribbon, a Philippine Liberation Star, and 3 Stars
19for Service in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater; his ship received a
20Presidential Unit Citation while he was the executive officer;
21and
 
22    WHEREAS, Upon returning home from the war, Harry Meadows

 

 

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1continued a 76-year association with W. R. Meadows, Inc., a
2family business started by his father in 1926 in Elgin; he
3served as Chairman of the Board and the company is now in its
493rd year with its third and fourth generation of family at the
5helm; and
 
6    WHEREAS, During the 1950s, Harry Meadows was a member of
7the Elgin Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors
8of the Elgin National Bank; he served as President of the Elgin
9Exchange Club and twice served as President of the Concrete
10Joint Institute; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In 1984, Harry Meadows received the Alumni
12Distinguished Service Citation from Lake Forest College; in
131993, he received an honorary Doctor of Business Management
14from Judson College, and in 1999, he was recognized by his
15church by being named a Knight in the Order of St. Gregory the
16Great by Pope John Paul II for his service in the Diocese of
17Rockford; numerous students over the years have benefited from
18the scholarships that he initiated; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Harry Meadows enjoyed spending time in northern
20Wisconsin and in Naples, Florida; he was a fan of any mode of
21transportation, including automobiles, airplanes, motorboats,
22and horses; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Harry Meadows was preceded in death by his parents
2and his brother, Dr. W. R. Meadows Jr.; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Harry Meadows is survived by his wife of 71 years,
4Ruth; his daughters, Merrie Derderian, Ann (Jim) Dwyer, and
5Martha Connell; his grandchildren, Matthew (Dana) Price,
6Timothy (Rebecca) Price, Catherine Connell (Tim) Kocher, Dr.
7Jennifer Dwyer, George Connell III, Elizabeth Connell, and
8William Connell; and his great-grandchildren, Kaylyn Price,
9Dylan Price, Hunter Price, John Kocher, and Mary Margaret
10Kocher; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13Harry George Meadows, and extend our sincere condolences to his
14family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Harry Meadows as an expression of
18our deepest sympathy.