HR0835 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0835 LRB104 21620 MST 37091 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former United States Representative Terry L. Bruce of Olney, who passed away on April 17, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce was born in Olney to Lloyd and Janie (Skelton) Bruce on March 25, 1944; he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and then later the University of Illinois College of Law; he married Charlotte A. Bruce on January 31, 1965; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce worked at the United States Department of Labor on issues related to farmworkers and on the staffs of Congressman George Shipley and State Senators Philip Benefiel and Tom McGloon; he practiced law at the Shumaker and Bruce Law Office in Olney; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1970 and was part of the Democratic study group referred to as the "Crazy 8"; he served as assistant majority leader from 1975 to 1984; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce served as U.S. Representative for the 19th Congressional District of Illinois from 1984 to 1992, where his focus was on legislation that would improve the lives of people in the district; he worked on bills to protect food safety, the Clean Air Act, and a number of health care bills and worker retraining programs; he also authored the Plastic Recycling Act and sponsored the Home Health Care Act, providing support to the families of Alzheimer's patients; one of his proudest achievements was securing funding for the establishment of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications in his district; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce served as the chief executive officer of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) from 1996 to 2019, where he focused on programs that would serve every kind of student; during his tenure with IECC, he was appointed to the Illinois Community College Board, which renamed and dedicated the Terry L. Bruce West Richland Center in Noble in his honor in 2023; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce served on the board of the Mt. Carmel Public Utility Company for over 30 years, becoming the C.E.O and chairman of the board in 2014; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce loved being at his farm, sitting on the porch with Charlotte, watching the deer and birds; he enjoyed baking bread as a hobby and delivered many loaves of his special recipe "Charlotte loaf" to friends; he had a cast iron collection that he used to make vast quantities of butter bean soup, chili, and peach cobbler; he was known for remembering everyone's birthday and for his joy and excitement when hearing good news; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce believed in democracy and the importance of voting in every election, from the school board to the Office of the President; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce considered his best jobs to be husband and father, and his universe squarely revolved around his family, especially his two daughters, who remained his highest priority throughout his life; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce was preceded in death by his wife of almost 60 years, Charlotte; his parents; and his in-laws Ansel Chadwick "Sonny" and Jacquelyn (Davisson) Roberts; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Bruce is survived by his daughters, Emily and Ellen (Joe Rupcich) Bruce; his brother, Kenneth (Rosalind) Bruce; his sister-in-law, Janas (Dusty) Burton; his brothers-in-law, Pete (Paulette) Roberts and Chad (Mary) Roberts; and several beloved family members; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former United States Representative Terry L. Bruce 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 Rep. Bruce as a symbol of our respect and esteem.