SR0800 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0800 LRB100 13718 MST 28424 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard "Dick" Locher of Naperville, who passed away on August 6, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher was born in Dubuque, Iowa to Joseph J. D.D.S. and Lucille (Jungk) Locher on June 4, 1929; he studied at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, the University of Iowa, and the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California; he graduated with honors from The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts; he served two years on active duty with the United States Air Force during the Korean War, followed by another 18 years in the Air Force Reserve; he was honorably discharged as a captain; he married Mary Cosgrove at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dubuque on June 15, 1957; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher began his career as a commercial artist in Chicago; he founded and was president of Novamark, an art studio in Oak Brook; in 1973, he became a political cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune/Tribune Media Services, and his nationally-syndicated, award-winning cartoons covered national and local political events; he won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning in 1983 for work that weighed in on home computers, The Middle East, and on President Ronald Reagan, with whom he once dined in the Oval Office; for over 30 years, he was also the artist behind the Dick Tracy comic strip created by Chester Gould; eventually, he worked as both artist and writer for the comic; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher served on the board of trustees for Benedictine University in Lisle and received honorary doctorates from both Loras College and Benedictine University; he also won numerous awards, including the FBI National Academy Associates of Illinois Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award, the National Cartoonist Society Silver T-Square Award, The Peter Lisagor Award, the U.S. Industrial Council's Dragon Slayer Award, and the Overseas Press Club - Thomas Nast Award; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher was a painter and sculptor; he designed the model for the nearly 9-foot-tall statue of Dick Tracy erected in Naperville and also helped select its Riverwalk location; he designed a sculpture of Naperville founder, Joseph Naper, which stands at the site of Naper's homestead; he also designed the Land of Lincoln Trophy, modeled after Abraham Lincoln's hat, which has been awarded each year since 2009 to the winner of the college football game between Northwestern University and the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; it was common to find the grandkids sitting on his lap in front of his drawing board "helping" Papa draw; he also cherished his time with family and friends in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, watching the sunsets, telling campfire stories, and listening to the loons; a Nut Goodie candy bar always seemed to be within his reach on these trips; he was most happy, though, when sharing stories and tales of his life; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher and Mary had been members of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church since 1969; they were also founding members of the St. Thomas the Apostle Church, where Richard served on the building committee; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher was preceded in death by his son, John Locher; his parents; his brother, Joseph C. Locher D.D.S.; his sister-in-law, Joan Monica Locher; his brother-in-law, Thomas Cosgrove; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends; and

WHEREAS, Richard Locher is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary; his son, Stephen (Sandra) Locher M.D.; his daughter, Jana (Terry) Evans; his grandchildren, Michael, Alex, and Julianne Locher and Stephenie and Mary Ritter; and his great-grandson, Matthew Drury; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard E. "Dick" Locher, 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 Richard Locher as an expression of our deepest sympathy.