SR1566 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1566 LRB100 21429 ALS 37983 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Donald Chambers Dodds Jr. of Champaign, who passed away on March 29, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. was the oldest son of Donald C. "Pick" and Julia Harris Dodds; he attended Uni High and then graduated form the University of Michigan; he returned to Champaign after college and serving in the Army; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. began Doddson Travel (Later Dodds Athletic Tours) in Campustown in 1959; in addition to Doddson Travel, he partnered with Tom Conlin in Conlin-Dodds Travel; they created an area of travel combining alumni and sports that was previously unknown; his first alumni sports trip took the Illini to the Rose Bowl in 1963; Doddson Travel/Dodds Athletic Tours and Conlin-Dodds Travel soon became the national leader in alumni sports travel; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. was also involved in banking and served on the First National Bank board and then later on the Hickory Point Bank advisory board; with his brother, he developed the Interstate Research Park in northwest Champaign, the first in Champaign; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. was a strong, longtime supporter of Parkland College; he was a founding board member and served on the Board from 1968 until 1983; he was a founding board member, and later president, of Parkland's Foundation Board; in honor of his service and support, he received an honorary degree from Parkland in 2003; in 2011, the school's new gym was named after him; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. also supported the Champaign Public Library and served as a founding member on its Foundation Board; along with the rest of his family, he contributed to the new library; he was a contributor to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Scholarship Fund for over 50 years; he also served on the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Marquee Council and supported the Krannert Art Museum and the Crisis Nursery; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. and Dodds Athletic Tours have sponsored Kiwanis Little League baseball since 1969; in recognition, he and his then-wife, Alice, were named Philanthropists of the Year, and he and his brother, Newt, were named Champaign County's Most Valuable Citizens by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. loved the St. Louis Cardinals, music, and Champaign; he was generous and valued friendship and family; he took immense pride in his family; and

WHEREAS, Donald Dodds Jr. is survived by his brother, Newt Dodds and his three daughters; his daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Ken Bruce, his daughter and son-in-law, Marci Dodds and Cody Sokolski, and KK Dodds; and his grandchildren, Callie Bruce, Lillie Sokolski, and Nate Sokolski; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Donald Chambers Dodds Jr. 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 Donald Dodds Jr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.