Full Text of SR0421

SR0421 LRB104 15293 ECR 28447 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Brigadier General Richard E. Northern, Illinois National Guard (Ret.), who passed away on September 2, 2025; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern was born to Harold Perry and Wilma Northern in Quincy on September 1, 1927; he graduated from Quincy Senior High School; he earned a Bachelor of Administration in Business and Accounting from Gem City Business College in Quincy; he graduated from several military schools, including the Chemical, Biological and Radiological School in Camp Gifu, Japan, the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, where he undertook Atomic Weapons Training, the Officer Basic Course, the Officer Advance Course, and the Ordnance Field Grade Course, and the Industrial College of the United States Armed Forces/U.S. Army War College, and he earned credit hours in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps and the Selective Service System; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern enlisted in the Illinois National Guard on June 23, 1948; he served as a sergeant of the 126th Service and Supply Company, which was sent to Korea in 1952, where he was assigned to the 314th Ammunition Group; after the Korean War, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps in 1955, serving in the Medical Company, 130th Infantry Regiment until 1958; he then re-branched to the Ordnance Corps and was assigned as executive officer of the 126th Ordnance Company before being promoted company commander, serving in that unit until 1965; during the Vietnam War, he was responsible for training the 126th Service and Supply Company and the 128th Service and Supply Detachment; he was transferred as a maintenance officer to the 32D Ordnance Battalion, and he was later promoted to major, holding the position of battalion executive officer; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern transferred to the Illinois State Headquarters on January 1, 1968, where he was assigned to the Selective Service Section; he was promoted to lieutenant colonel on May 19, 1971, chief of the National Guard Selective Section on October 1, 1976, and colonel on June 16, 1977; he was officially appointed as director of the Illinois State Selective Service System on November 15, 1977, overseeing three detachments and 15 Reserve Force Officers and being responsible for the health and readiness of the State during peacetime and in the event of draft mobilization; he served in the Illinois National Guard for 39 years, retiring with the rank of brigadier general in 1987; he continued serving as a federal employee for an additional 28 years, retiring on June 23, 2015; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern was a key contributor to the City of Quincy, Adams County, and the State of Illinois; he served as administrator of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy (IVHQ) for 24 years and as chief of its security for seven years; as administrator, he oversaw construction of the All Faiths Chapel and Eternal Flame, the former Kent Infirmary of Lake Illinois, Koch's Garage, the Illinois American Veterans Pavilion, and the American Legion Recreational Pavilion; his duties also included ensuring the placement of several memorials, including the Century Circle Memorial, the Memorial Fountain, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean Memorial, the Shirlee Northern Memorial Garden, the Memorial for Korean Medal of Honor winner CPL Lester Hammond Jr., and the World War II Honor Roll Memorial, as well as directing the rehabilitation and repurposing of the former Richard E. Northern Guest House, the Illinois Veterans Home Library, and the All Wars Museum; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern became active in politics after returning from the Korean War; he was elected as a Republican precinct committeeman, serving for 67 years, and as chairman of the Adams County Republican Party, serving for 37 years; he led several state and congressional campaigns, attended two Republican National Conventions as a delegate, and served as chairman of the Illinois State Republican Party; he also served as a mentor and an advocate to many candidates and elected officials for state, county, and city office; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern owned and operated the real estate company, Northern Realty, for 52 years; he brokered in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Texas, and some of his most successful accomplishments included owning and operating the properties of Wesley and Betty Hochgraber, Bayview Storage, Riverview Storage, Franklin Square, and the Old Quincy National Guard Armory; he also sold property to the Salvation Army, known today as the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, the Elks, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Guard Association of the United States, the National Guard Association of Illinois, the Korean War Veterans Association, and the American Legion, serving as a member and past commander of American Legion Post #37; he was a member of the Quincy Lodge, the Quincy Consistory, the Quincy Shrine Club, the Shrine Temple, and the Illinois State Police Association; he was also a 33rd Degree Mason and served as president of the Quincy Jaycees, national director of the United States Jaycees, president of the National Association of State Veterans Homes, and fund chairman of the local Red Cross, Community Chest, and Cancer Fund; and

WHEREAS, BG Northern received many awards for his military service, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, an Armed Forces Reserve Medal Republic of Korea Presidential Citation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the Selective Service System Exceptional Service Award, the Illinois Distinguished Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Guard Long and Honorable Service Medal, the National Guard Perfect Attendance Medal, and the Illinois State Active Duty Medal three times; he was also named Executive of the Year by the Quincy Chamber of Commerce in 1973 and First Illinois Veteran of the Year in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Northern is survived by his children, Natalie D. (Todd Franklin) Northern and Richard E. "Rick" (Beth Parchim) Northern II; his brother-in-law, Robert F. Niebur; his nephew and niece, Brett (Cindy) Niebur and Angela (John) Niebur McGrath; three great-nephews and one great-niece; and four great-great-nephews and one great-great-niece; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Brigadier General Richard E. Northern, Illinois National Guard (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 BG Northern as an expression of our deepest sympathy.