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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Benjamin Hooker Watts of Champaign, who 
4passed away on September 19, 2017; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was born in Urbana to Robert Allan 
6and Emily Stipes Watts on March 1, 1962; he graduated from 
7Champaign Central High School and Dartmouth College; he played 
8football for both schools; he later graduated from the 
9University of Michigan School of Law; he married Judith Diane 
10Argentieri on October 25, 1997; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts began practicing law with Gardner 
12Carton & Douglas in Chicago; he then returned to Champaign and 
13joined Stipes Publishing, where he was a partner in the 
14publishing business; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was active in the Champaign-Urbana 
16community and served on the Crisis Nursery Board of Directors 
17and the Alzheimer's Association of Champaign County Board of 
18Directors; he was a season ticket holder for Illini sports, as 
19well as an avid supporter of the University of Illinois 
20Division of Intercollegiate Athletes and the University of 
21Illinois Library; he was a member of the University of Illinois 
22Foundation; he also supported his alma mater, Dartmouth, and 
 
 
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1his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, where he had served as 
2president; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was a devoted husband, father, son, 
4uncle, cousin, and friend, who spent most of his free time with 
5his wife and children; he was always present at his children's 
6activities; he coached his son's Little League teams, including 
7Peanut, Farm, and Kuhn's in the American League; the Kuhn's 
8team advanced to the Little League Semi-Finals in 2014; he also 
9coached several of his children's YMCA and Champaign Park 
10District basketball teams; he led his daughter's seventh and 
11eighth grade YMCA team to the league championship in 2013; his 
12other passion was gardening; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts was preceded in death by his 
14father; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Benjamin Watts is survived by his mother; his 
16wife, Judith; his daughter, Olivia; his son, Samuel; his 
17brothers, Edward and Thomas; and his numerous nieces and 
18nephews; therefore, be it
  
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
21Benjamin Hooker Watts, and extend our sincere condolences to 
22his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
 
 
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1further
  
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
3presented to the family of Benjamin Watts as an expression of 
4our deepest sympathy.