SR0335 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0335 LRB101 12082 MST 59601 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Roger Douglas Grace of Urbana, who passed away on April 3, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace was born in Champaign to Lyle and Betty (Shade) Grace on March 20, 1947; he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics in 1969 and married Janis "Jan" Meister in Springfield on September 4, 1982; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace began working for the Illinois Department of Agriculture in the Division of Markets; he worked for the Illinois Energy Office during the oil embargo and fuel shortage of 1973-1974; he then began working as a legislative aide to Congressman Ed Madigan and moved to Washington, D.C.; he became a staff member on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace joined the family's farming business as the fifth generation of his family to continuously work the land, which is now in the hands of his son, Stephen; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace served on the board of Illini FS and as a trustee on the board of the Country Mutual Funds Trust; he was past director and legislative co-chair of the Champaign County Farm Bureau and was a member of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Soybean Association (Land of Lincoln Soybean Association); he was also a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho chapter at Southern Illinois University and served on the leadership board of Twin City Bible Church; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace was named a News Gazette Farm Leader in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace taught his family how to cast a reel, the best places to view an eclipse, where to find the best local restaurants in any city or country, the importance of studying cultural history, and how to grow the best sweet corn; he also held the secret to finding artifacts on the farm; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gary; and

WHEREAS, Roger Grace is survived by his wife, Jan; his daughters, Erin (Jason) Watson and Katherine (Manuel) Chavez; his son, Stephen; his grandchildren, Carolina Grace Chavez, Greyson Roger Watson, and one on the way; his sister, Barbara (David) Wilson; his brother, David; and his nephews, Tim Grace, Andy Grace, and Eric Wilson; 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 Roger Douglas Grace 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 Roger Grace as an expression of our deepest sympathy.