SR0219 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0219 LRB101 11606 MST 57640 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Morris Littlefield "Morry" Hecker Jr. of Champaign, who passed away on March 3, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker was born to Morris L. and Bess Stipes Hecker on July 20, 1922; he attended Champaign public schools and entered the University of Illinois in the fall of 1940; he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served in World War II; he attended Officer Training School at the University of Pennsylvania and Midshipman School at Northwestern University's Abbott Hall, Chicago Campus; he tested Higgins Boats on Lake Ponchartrain in New Orleans while awaiting deployment on a Landing Ship Tank (LST); he served in the Pacific theater and experienced a number of enemy bombings; and

WHEREAS, After the war, Morry Hecker finished his education at the University of Illinois and graduated from Harvard University's Business School in 1948 with a Master of Business Administration; he returned to Champaign to work with his cousin at Stipes Publishing, which is still operating today; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker married Martha Zearing in 1950; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker was part of numerous church, civic, and community organizations; his board of director positions included 1st United Methodist Church of Champaign, the Champaign Rotary, the Champaign Public Library, the Champaign Chamber of Commerce, and The Salvation Army; he was active in the alumni organization for his college fraternity, Delta Tau Delta; he was also a member of the WILL-TV Citizen Advisory Board, the Krannert Marquee Council, the U of I President's Club, and the Carle Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker was known for his quick wit, humor, and sarcasm; he enjoyed traveling with Martha and his family to the shores of Michigan, the rest of the United States, the Holy Lands, Western and Eastern Europe, South America, Africa, the Greek Isles, Turkey, Great Britain, and other locations; in the summer of 1948, he visited his childhood friend, Bob Simon, in France, where Bob was a foreign correspondent for Time Magazine; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, Morry Hecker and his children immensely enjoyed an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. with other central Illinois veterans; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker's granddaughter, Grace, lived with him for four years and was often seen driving him to appointments, the grocery store, and out to dinner, which was a great source of social activity in his latter years; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker enjoyed his coffee circle in downtown Champaign, Rotary lunches, fishing trips with his sons and grandsons, Krannert Performing Arts Center productions, word games, puzzles, bridge, and watching Jeopardy and The Golden Girls; he was an avid fan of the University of Illinois football and basketball teams; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker was preceded in death by his wife of almost 57 years, Martha; his parents; and his siblings, John, Helen, and James; and

WHEREAS, Morry Hecker is survived by his children and their families, John and Barbara Hecker and their children, Meredith Garreau (Scott) and Joseph, and Mary and Terry MacRae and their children, Grace and Camille; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Morris Littlefield "Morry" Hecker 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 Morry Hecker as an expression of our deepest sympathy.