SR1191 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1191 LRB101 21287 LAW 71877 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Mayor Aaron T. Shepley of Crystal Lake, who passed away on May 4, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Shepley grew up in Crystal Lake; he graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1985; he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1988; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Shepley served as general counsel for Centegra Health System from 2002 to 2018; he served as vice president and senior associate general counsel at Northwestern Medicine from 2018 until his death; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Shepley spent two years as a Crystal Lake city council member from 1997 to 1999; he was first elected mayor in April 1999; he served in that position for over 21 years until his death, making him the city's longest serving mayor; during his tenure, he worked to recruit businesses to fill the city's vacant storefronts, particularly along Route 14; he championed the efforts for a united city council that worked together for the purpose and vision of making Crystal Lake a great place to live; and

WHEREAS, Outside of politics, Mayor Shepley co-founded the Crystal Lake Strikers in 2008, a summertime drum corps for local adults that became one of the most popular entertainment acts in the Chicago area; since its founding, his organization has marched hundreds of miles in local parades, performed in front of millions of people, appeared live on television multiple times, and donated thousands towards college scholarships; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Shepley was involved in a number of organizations, including serving on the advisory committees of the Raue Center for the Arts and Shaw Media Illinois; he enjoyed sports, bicycling, action photography, and playing drums as part of the five-person band What About This?; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Shepley will be remembered as a tireless public servant who advocated for his community as well as a deeply committed family man; his legacy serves as an inspiration for residents and businesses alike to further serve their community; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Shepley is survived by his wife, Regan Daniels Shepley, and his daughters, Chase and Madison; 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 Mayor Aaron T. Shepley 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 Mayor Shepley as an expression of our deepest sympathy.