SR1250 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1250 LRB100 16766 ALS 31906 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of David B. "Dave" Lawrence of Savoy, who passed away on January 1, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence was born in Manhattan, Kansas to Donald S. and Anna Louise (Shellenbaum) Lawrence on July 17, 1937; his family moved to Topeka, Kansas, where he attended Central Park Grade School, Crane Junior High, and Topeka High School; he later attended Kansas State University; he married Rhea A. Lake in Lawrence, Kansas on October 19, 1957; and

WHEREAS, In 1968, Dave Lawrence settled into the Champaign-Urbana community as the founding Executive Director of The Boys Club of C-U, later named The Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club of Champaign County; in the ten years to follow, he joined the Champaign Rotary Club, became a member and President of the Right to Read Council of Champaign County, a board member of Reading is Fundamental, a member of the Unit 4 Alternative Education planning group, and was the Fourth of July Celebration Parade Chair; he was also the only private sector agency representative appointed to the State of Illinois Delinquency Prevention Advisory Board; he was the recipient of the Champaign-Urbana Jaycees Outstanding Young Man Award; during this time, he was also an active member of St. Matthew Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, For the next ten years, Dave Lawrence worked as the Executive Director for the United Way of Champaign County; he was an Advisory Board member for the University of Illinois Volunteer Illini Projects, and Chair of the Champaign County Funders Council; he served as President of the Champaign Rotary Club, became a board member of the Champaign County Crime Stoppers, and later served on the Crime Stoppers State Board; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence then returned to the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, where he served as a board member and as president for one term; he was president of the Illinois Area Council of Boys & girls Clubs and was the recipient of the Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club Silver Medallion; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence was a board member and served as president of the Champaign County CASA; he was also a member and President of the Champaign County Salvation Army Board of Directors; he served two terms as a trustee for Savoy and was currently the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals for that community; he was named "Savoy Citizen of the Year" by the Savoy Rotary Club; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence served two terms as the Mid-State Representative appointed to the State of Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, Executive Director of the Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation, and board member and Vice President of St. Joseph Sportsman's Club; he received the Award of Appreciation from the Illinois State Crime Stoppers Association for exceptional service to the Illinois State Crime Stoppers and the local Crime Stoppers Programs of Illinois for his dedicated efforts with House Bill 0598; he received a Special Commendation from Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service for his years of dedicated leadership and service; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence was a Champaign County Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, an Art Skelton Fellow, and received the Avenues of Service Award from Rotary International; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence spent two years as the National Executive Director of the LeaderShape Institute and then jointed the team of WCIA-TV, where he remained until his retirement; after retirement, he worked at WILL-TV and obtained sponsorships; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence supported and rooted for the Illini and created, produced, and hosted a radio show on WDWS, "The Other Illini"; he was also currently serving on the Illini Networkers Board for women's volleyball; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Blackhawks; he enjoyed golfing, fishing, and pheasant and quail hunting; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence was preceded in death by his older brother, Gary (Peggy); and his younger sister, Patricia; and

WHEREAS, Dave Lawrence is survived by his wife, Rhea; his children, David O. Lawrence, Cherise (David) Lewis, Susan (Charles) Penny, and Dena Lawrence; and his grandchildren, Theresa Lawrence, Reid (Etienne) Penny, and Blake (Jeicel) Penny; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of David B. "Dave" Lawrence 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 Dave Lawrence as an expression of our deepest sympathy.