HR1191 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1191 LRB095 20888 KXB 49771 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of our former colleague L. Bruce Richmond of Murphysboro, who passed away on April 13, 2008; and

WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was born on October 17, 1920 in Johnson City; his parents were John and Dottie Richmond; he married LaCleeta Patterson on January 18, 1940; she passed away on December 4, 1999; he later married Elizabeth (Rose) Fear; and

WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond served in the United States Navy during World War II, where he served as a ship painter at Pearl Harbor; his artistic ability led him to learn the trade of sign-painting while in Hawaii, where he also began painting portraits; he later settled in Murphysboro with his family, where he was owner-operator of Artcraft Sign Service for more than 30 years; and

WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was active in politics for most of his life as an alderman in Murphysboro for many years and as mayor of Murphysboro in the late 1960s and early 1970s; in 1974, he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly, where he served as a member of the House of Representatives with distinction until his retirement in 1993; and

WHEREAS, As a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, L. Bruce Richmond was the primary sponsor of the annual appropriations bill for SIU and funding for the university's projects; he was the original sponsor and supporter for state funding for the SIU Business Incubator, now known as the Dunn-Richmond Center; he was also the chief sponsor of bills obtaining funding for the renovation of Davies Gym, Touch of Nature, Pulliam Hall and many other projects at SIU; in addition, he was able to bring funding for many projects in Southern Illinois as chairman of the Agriculture Committee and member of Appropriations; and

WHEREAS, After retiring, L. Bruce Richmond continued honing his artistic skills, painting dozens of still life animals and portraits; he also did walnut relief carving of birds and animals; in the late 1990s, his artwork was displayed at an exhibit at the Museum Gallery at SIUC; and

WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was an avid golfer and fisherman; he was an active member of the Elks Club, where he served as state president in 1963, and was a national ritual judge and officer for several years afterwards; and

WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was preceded in death by his wife, LaCleeta; his son, Randall; his parents; and his two sisters and three brothers; and

WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his son, Michael, and daughter-in-law, Linda; his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Richard Morris; his stepson, Kevin Fear; his stepdaughter, Mary George; his grandchildren, Amy Cheatham and Sarah Richmond; his step-granddaughter, Emma; his great-grandson, Noah Cheatham; and his many nieces and nephews; and

WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond will be remembered by all who knew and loved him for his wisdom, dry wit, and quiet strength; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the death of our former colleague L. Bruce Richmond; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of L. Bruce Richmond as an expression of our sympathy.