SR0250 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0250 LRB102 18238 MST 25893 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Joseph J. "Joe" Bannon Ph.D. of Champaign, who passed away on March 30, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was born in Glens Falls, New York to Leo and Elizabeth Bannon on May 30, 1931; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon graduated cum laude from Ithaca College in 1957; in 1958, he was awarded an assistantship at the University of Illinois in the Park and Recreation Department to pursue his Master of Science; upon graduation, he became Superintendent of Recreation in Leonia, New Jersey; in 1963, he became the General Superintendent of the Topeka, Kansas Recreation Commission, where he served until 1966; in 1966, he returned to the University of Illinois to become the chief of the Office of Recreation and Park Resources; he completed his Ph.D. in 1971 and became head of the Department of Leisure Studies in 1973; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon authored or co-authored nine books, contributed a number of chapters to edited books, and wrote over 50 journal and magazine articles; he was a co-founding editor of the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration; he was a founding member of The Academy of Leisure Sciences and the American Academy of Park and Recreation Association; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon consulted extensively throughout the U.S., Japan, China, Korea, South Africa, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and Peru; in 1988, he spent an extended period of time in China consulting with universities as well as city officials in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suchow about fitness and recreation programs; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon developed the newsletter Management Strategy in 1977, which was dedicated to disseminating management information to parks and recreation professionals throughout the world; this led to the formation of the Sagamore Publishing Company, which he built and worked at full time alongside his son, Peter Bannon, acquiring and developing titles after retiring from the University of Illinois; he continued to maintain his close ties to the recreation field he loved throughout his life, advising and mentoring countless young professionals in the field; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was presented numerous awards in his lifetime for his decades-long service to the park and recreation profession; in 2001, he was honored with the Pugsley Award, the most distinguished award for park and recreation conservation given in the profession; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, boss, mentor, and friend; he was a wonderful role model for his family and was fiercely loyal to those he loved; he enjoyed spending time with family and friends, running, golf, and spending his summers with his family at his mountain retreat in upstate New York; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was preceded in death by his wife, Ann, and his grandson, Keegan; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon is survived by his sons, Joseph Jr. and Peter, and their spouses, Jill and Amy; his grandchildren, Kelsey, Keegan, Erin, Sophie, Regan, Doug, Leo, and Rory; and his great-granddaughter, Keegan Rose; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joseph J. "Joe" Bannon Ph.D. 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 Dr. Bannon as an expression of our deepest sympathy.