HR0671 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0671 LRB103 40027 LAW 71422 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Fowler Connell on the occasion of his 100th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Fowler Connell was born on April 18, 1924; he graduated Paseo High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1941; he attended Kansas City Junior College and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Fowler Connell served as a petty officer first class and a radarman in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he was aboard the USS Boston (CA-69) during his entire length of service from 1943 to 1946; during his time in the Pacific, he experienced kamikaze attacks and supported forces in island assaults post-Pearl Harbor; at 21 years of age, he witnessed the end of the war from the deck of the USS Boston, which was anchored off the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where General MacArthur accepted the surrender of the Empire of Japan; and

WHEREAS, Fowler Connell led a 40-year career in newspaper journalism, beginning with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Champaign News-Gazette in 1949; he then joined the Danville Commercial-News in 1952, where he worked for 37 years before retiring from his position as sports editor at the end of 1989; he was later honored by the newspaper in 2005, when it published a book featuring a collection of his favorite stories titled, Sports Through My Eyes, 50 Years of Sports Coverage, with proceeds from the sale of the book and companion audio CD supporting scholarships at Danville Area Community College; and

WHEREAS, Fowler Connell began his second career as a radio broadcaster on January 1, 1990, and he continued serving as a member of the WDAN broadcast team on high school, junior college, and local University of Illinois broadcasts until 2020; he appeared as a regular panelist on the WDAN Sports Talk program for over 30 years, retiring from the show at almost 97 years of age; during his 71 years of employment as a newspaper writer, editor, and radio broadcaster, he never missed a day of work; and

WHEREAS, Fowler Connell supported his community in a number of ways; he belonged to the Danville Golden K club, where he served as president and lieutenant governor, and volunteered at the Danville VA Hospital, Danville High School, North Ridge Middle School, the Danville Township Food Pantry, and a local retirement center, where he called bingo each week, remaining active in local volunteer service until age 97; he spearheaded the establishment of the Vermilion County Sportsmanship Award over 30 years ago, and he continues to serve on the award's local committee; and

WHEREAS, Fowler Connell, an icon of Danville and Vermilion County, will celebrate his 100th birthday on April 18, 2024; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Fowler Connell on his 100th birthday, commend him for his service to the State of Illinois and the nation, and wish him continued health and happiness; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Fowler Connell as an expression of our esteem and respect.