Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0443

HR0443 LRB104 14807 LAW 27950 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Captain James Arthur "Jim" Lovell Jr., USN (Ret.), who passed away on August 7, 2025; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell, born on March 25, 1928, was a decorated naval officer and a pioneer in human space exploration, becoming one of NASA's most experienced astronauts; in the course of his four space missions, he helped guide the trajectory of spaceflight history; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman set a new endurance record in space on Gemini 7 from December 4 to December 18, 1965, undergoing nearly 14 days in orbit and proving that humans could survive long-duration missions necessary for future moon landings; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell served as pilot of Gemini 12 from November 11 to November 15, 1966, during which he successfully conducted complex spacewalks, demonstrating critical techniques that paved the way for the Apollo missions' success; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell served as command module pilot on Apollo 8 from December 21 to December 27, 1968, the first mission to orbit the Moon, marking the first time humans left Earth's orbit, and this space mission became further known for capturing iconic images of the Earth and Moon and opening the path to lunar landing; and

WHEREAS, Most famously, as commander of Apollo 13, which launched on April 11, 1970, Jim Lovell led his crew through a life-threatening mission crisis following an onboard oxygen tank explosion on April 13, 1970; while expertly coordinating with NASA teams on the ground to safely bring his crew home, he showcased resilience, problem-solving, and teamwork under pressure, leading to Apollo 13's return on April 17, 1970; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell, after leading a distinguished career that helped establish the United States as a leader in space exploration during the space race, retired from NASA in July 1973; through his work, he inspired generations to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell was a longtime resident of Lake Forest since the early 1980s, where he was respected not only for his historic contributions to spaceflight but also for his character and community engagement; and

WHEREAS, Jim Lovell will be remembered for his groundbreaking achievements in space exploration, his exemplary leadership in moments of crisis, and his lasting legacy that continues to inspire people around the world; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Captain James Arthur "Jim" Lovell Jr., USN (Ret.) 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 Jim Lovell as an expression of our deepest sympathy.