SR1176 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1176 LRB103 42373 LAW 75597 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard A. "Dick" Farrar of Moline, who passed away on August 18, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Dick Farrar, the son of Arthur R. Farrar and Hazel M. (Shellberg) Farrar, was born in Moline on March 12, 1933; he attended Ericksen Elementary School, John Deere Junior High School, and Moline High School; he graduated from Rock Island High School in 1951; he was a lifelong resident of Moline, with the exception of his senior year of high school; after high school, he attended Augustana College and Black Hawk College, and he worked in carpentry and other jobs; he was drafted in July 1956, serving as a signalman in the U.S. Army; he married Margaret Victoria Thompson in Summit, Iowa on June 20, 1959; and

WHEREAS, Dick Farrar, a proud fourth generation Deere & Company employee, had a nearly 40-year career with the organization; he began as an industrial engineering supervisor at Malleable Works in 1958; during his tenure, he completed his associate's degree at Black Hawk College, held a variety of positions within the company related to information services, and was instrumental in the development of a computerized parts catalog system and a competitor parts matching program for dealers; he retired as manager of Parts Information in 1997; he was noted by colleagues for his vision and commitment to excellence; and

WHEREAS, Dick Farrar was raised in the Lutheran faith; as an adult, he occasionally attended First United Presbyterian Church in Moline, where his wife, Margaret, was a devoted member and he was active in the senior fellowship group Photeinos; and

WHEREAS, Dick Farrar loved spending time outdoors, and he took his family on many camping and fishing trips; he became an enthusiastic tennis player in late middle age, and he enjoyed watching Wimbledon on television; he was an ace ping pong player in his youth, playing well into his eighties; he was a lifelong chess player, and he enjoyed playing chess online with his friend, Chuck Sanders, in recent years; and

WHEREAS, Dick Farrar is survived by his children, Victoria "Vicki" (Shaun) Graves, Valerie Farrar, and Arthur Richard "Rick" (Dena) Farrar; his granddaughters, Charlotte Graves, Clara Graves, Cordelia Farrar, and Gwenyth Farrar; his cousin, Carol Shellberg; and his many nieces and nephews; 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 Richard A. "Dick" Farrar 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 Dick Farrar as an expression of our deepest sympathy.