10000SJ0037 EngrossedLRB100 12525 MST 25542 r


  
1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 37
2
(As Amended by Senate Amendment No. 2)

  
 
3    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General

4Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals

5who have served their communities; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Roger E. Walker Jr. was born on February 7, 1949; 
7he attended Eisenhower High School and served in the United 
8States Navy from 1967 to 1969; he graduated from Richland 
9Community College; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Roger Walker joined the Macon County Sheriff's 
11Office in 1972; he climbed the ranks to patrol sergeant, 
12detective, and lieutenant; he loved children and would hand out 
13licorice to children while patrolling the Longview Housing 
14Project; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Roger Walker was elected Macon County Sheriff in 
161998, becoming the first African American sheriff in the State 
17of Illinois; he was re-elected in 2002; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Roger Walker was appointed Director of the 
19Department of Corrections in 2003 and served for six years; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Roger Walker was appointed to the Prisoner Review 
 
 
10000SJ0037 Engrossed- 2 -LRB100 12525 MST 25542 r

1Board in 2009 and served until 2010; and
  
 
  
2    WHEREAS, Roger Walker passed away on March 10, 2012; 
3therefore, be it
  
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
6CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Route 48 as it travels 
7between Elwin Road and East Mound Road as the "Sheriff Roger E. 
8Walker Jr. Memorial Road"; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation

10is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with

11State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs

12giving notice of the name "Sheriff Roger E. Walker Jr. Memorial 
13Road"; and be it
further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
15presented to the family of Roger Walker, the Mayor of Decatur, 
16and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.