SR1075 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1075 LRB101 21010 ECR 71166 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Todd D. Hill, who passed away on February 19, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Todd Hill was born to Gene Evans Sr. and Kathryn Hill in East St. Louis on October 16, 1967; he graduated from East St. Louis High School in 1986 and then joined the Army Reserve, where he served as a food service specialist; Todd attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, earning a bachelor's degree in kinesiology; while working towards his degree, he met his soulmate, Valeska "Vee" Hill; and

WHEREAS, Todd Hill was initiated into the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity on December 2, 1988; he was the captain of S.S. Five Below Zero and his line name was Trikki-T; Todd joined the Epsilon Lambda Sigma Alumni Chapter in East St. Louis in 1993 and served as chapter president (two terms), vice president, Panhellenic Council rep, and membership intake chairman; he also worked closely with the Sigma Beta Youth Club and served as the director of operations for the Sigma Community Leadership Social Impact Foundation; Todd was recently selected as Assistant State Director of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity for the State of Illinois; in December of 2019, he proudly obtained his LIFE membership after serving 31 years in the fraternity; and

WHEREAS, Todd Hill was hired as a firefighter for the East St. Louis Fire Department in March of 1990; he was promoted to lieutenant in 1994 and captain in 1996; he retired on December 31, 2016 at the rank of assistant fire chief after working a total of 26 years, 9 months, and 18 days; he was most proud to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, retired Chief Bruce Hill Sr.; Todd also served as President of Local 23 for four years; and

WHEREAS, Todd Hill had been the director of the Southwest Illinois Jets Basketball Club since 2004; he taught physical education at Estelle Kampmeyer Elementary School in the O'Fallon School District and worked as an athletic director in Riverview Gardens; he also served as an assistant athletic director and restorative justice specialist within the Cahokia School District; and

WHEREAS, Todd Hill started out coaching boys basketball but switched to girls basketball when his daughter Jazmin began playing; he coached girls basketball at the YMCA, with the AAU, and at local high schools, with his 2009 AAU team ranking 16th in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Todd Hill was cool, charming, compassionate, courageous, and a sharp dresser; he loved to work out, play basketball, and purchase nice cars; Todd was an animal lover and owned many pets over the years with his favorite being his beloved dog, Cane Corso Sasha; he enjoyed watching the Florida Gators, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and North Carolina college basketball; he committed to his faith at an early age and was a current member of New Life Community Church; and

WHEREAS, Todd Hill is survived by his wife, Valeska Hill; his parents, Gene (Ethel) and Kathryn Hill; his father-in-law, Willie (Beverly) Douglas; his son, Dereon (Emily) Hill; his two daughters, Jazmin (Darin) Pitts and Jayda Hill; his grandson, Kamdyn Hill; his two-granddaughters, Korina Hill and Daiyah Pitts; his two brothers, Anthony Hill and Gene Evans Jr.; his one sister, Nicole (Fritz) Bush; his two sisters-in-law, Delores Buchanan and Tracy Douglas; his two brothers-in-law, Darrell (Patricia) Buchanan and Willie Douglas Jr.; his three nieces, Alizaeon (Leon) Mallory, Wynter Douglas, and Penelope A. Bush; his four nephews, Gordon Moore Jr., Jamaal Moore, Jameel Moore, and Loren Fritz E. Bush; his two great-nephews, Jalen Moore and Delvecchio Mallory; his two great-nieces, Jaliyah Moore and N'Joi Lyfe Moore; his three very special cousins, Bruce Hill III, Korree (Carlandria) Hill, and Kahalah (William) Clay; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, friends, and members of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Todd D. Hill and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Todd Hill as an expression of our deepest sympathy.