SR0481 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0481 LRB101 12729 ALS 61496 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Terry George Todt of Raymond, who passed away on May 23, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Terry Todt was born at Hillsboro Hospital to George and Vera (Bonacorsi) Todt on February 22, 1956; he graduated from Lincolnwood High School in Raymond in 1974; he continued his education at Lake Land College in Mattoon and earned an associate's degree in 1976; he married Brenda Pinkston on March 22, 1980; and

WHEREAS, Terry Todt was destined for a career in radio after he received a Western Auto Trutone six transistor radio for Christmas when he was seven; he worked for WFWA in Sullivan for two years until an ice storm destroyed the radio tower in 1978; after a brief, part-time stay at WLBH in Mattoon, he returned to Litchfield to work for WSMI on May 16, 1978; he rose to the position of program director and sports director; for the past 41 years, he was best known as the voice of high school athletics in Central Illinois, having called such memorable moments as the Nokomis' girls basketball state championships in 1998 and 1999, the Hillsboro's girls basketball state championship in 2006, and his alma mater's state championship run in baseball in 2009; his enthusiasm for the games and the kids who played them made every game he broadcast seem special; and

WHEREAS, For his excellence on the airwaves, Terry Todt was inducted into the media division of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001; he was recognized as Sportsperson of the Year by the Illinois Coaches Association-Softball in 2011; he was also honored by the Bottomley-Ruffing-Schalk Baseball Museum in Nokomis, was a recipient of the Panhandle Education Foundation's Distinguished Alumni Award, and was the Montgomery County Cancer Association's honorary chairman; and

WHEREAS, Terry Todt's passion for youth athletics continued outside of his job; for many years, he worked with the Raymond-Harvel Sports Association, serving as president and coaching and officiating baseball, basketball, and soccer; for more than 20 years, he served on the Raymond Park Board, where he was instrumental in expanding the park to add a new softball field and soccer field, the latter of which was renamed the Terry Todt RHSA Field in October 2018; he was the voice of the community, serving as a guest speaker and emcee for many events, including the MTXE check presentations in honor of his friend, the late Maury Hough, that benefited the Lincolnwood and Nokomis sports programs; his legacy will continue through the T. Todt Shootout, an eight-game high school basketball extravaganza that began in 2018 and benefits the Montgomery County Cancer Association; and

WHEREAS, Terry Todt was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Terry Todt is survived by his wife, Brenda; his children, Brendan (D.J.) Todt and Brigette Todt; his grandchildren, Jacob and Zachary Todt; his brothers, Larry (Glenda) Todt and Garry (Teresa) Todt; his sister, Sharri (Don) Huddleston; and his many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; 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 Terry George Todt 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 Terry Todt as an expression of our deepest sympathy.