SR0711 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0711 LRB103 37560 ECR 67686 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Charles Lohman Dancey of Pekin, who passed away on January 9, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey was born to Albert Duane and Bertha (Lohman) Dancey in Pekin on November 28, 1916; he earned a degree in journalism from the University of Illinois in 1938; during his studies, he worked as a research assistant in the Physiology department throughout the school year and as an assistant manager at the Mineral Springs Park swimming pool in the summer; he married Nina Evelyn Manker at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin on December 10, 1944; and

WHEREAS, Between 1938 and 1941, Charles Dancey worked as a Pekin correspondent for the Peoria Star, a press agent for the State of Illinois in Springfield, and as a reporter covering the federal court for the Peoria Journal; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey joined the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1941, serving with tactical commands from second lieutenant to major in the South Pacific for two years and 11 months; he was then stationed as director of the Combat Machine Gun School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, From 1946 to 1950, Charles Dancey worked as a Pekin/Tazewell County correspondent for Peoria Newspapers, Inc. and as a newscaster for the WSIV Pekin radio station; he also served as a member of the Pekin City Council, commissioner of the police and fire departments, state commandant of the Marine Corps League in Illinois, and commander of Charlie Company, the Marine Corps Reserve Unit based in the Peoria area; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey and the Charlie Company were called to active duty in 1950; he joined the headquarters staff at the Parris Island Recruit Depot, where he was assigned to handle the integration of the armed forces into the new Defense Department and the initial racial integration; he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1951; after his reservist tour had ended, he was called to participate in a monthlong session at the Naval War College in 1952 and at the National War College in 1959; he was promoted to colonel in 1959; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey returned to his journalism career in 1952, working at the copy desk and covering the State legislature when it was in session; after the two Peoria newspapers merged into the Peoria Journal Star, he worked as an assistant to the publisher, the supervisor of the editorial and mechanical departments, and as an editor; he retired in 1986 while being retained as a consultant and serving on the board of directors of the Peoria Journal Star into the 1990s; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey was a member of the Inter-American Press Association, also known as Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa, where he served as a member of the board of directors and the executive board, as vice-president of the Freedom of the Press Committee, and as chairman of the Conclusions Committee; he also served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize in the 1970s and was a board member of the B'nai B'rith Covenant House, the St. Francis Free Clinic, and the Dirksen Congressional Research Center; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey was a longstanding member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, Empire Lodge 126, and the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Pekin; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his son, Richard Dancey; his daughter-in-law, Tina Dancey; his grandson, Jacob Dancey; three brothers; and two sisters; and

WHEREAS, Charles Dancey is survived by his sons, Burt Dancey and Clinton (Debbie) Dancey; his daughter-in-law, Margaret Dancey; his grandchildren, Zedford (Kyong) Dancey, Sarah Dancey, Silas (Kristen) Dancey, Rebekah Dancey, Amos (Mara) Dancey, Abigail (Nathaniel Williams) Dancey, Elias (Bethany) Dancey, Emily (Jordan) Head, and Ethan (Malissa) Dancey; his granddaughter-in-law, Lia Dancey; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Charles Lohman Dancey 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 Charles Dancey as an expression of our deepest sympathy.