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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Roy D. Hopper of Canton, who passed 
4away on January 1, 2026; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Roy Hopper was born April 26, 1938; he graduated 
6from Canton High School in 1956, earned his associate's degree 
7from Spoon River College in 1968, and served in the United 
8States Army; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Roy Hopper retired from the accounting department 
10of International Harvester in 1993; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Roy Hopper was best known for his vast knowledge 
12of Central Illinois sports spanning the past 100 years and for 
13his 40 years of officiating local basketball, baseball, and 
14softball games; he coauthored From Plowboys to Little Giants: 
15A History of Canton Basketball in 2008; he was the former 
16president of the Canton Little Giant Booster Club and a 
17founding member of the Canton Sports Hall of Fame, and he was 
18awarded the Vic Sereno Contribution to Youth Award by the 
19Canton Family YMCA in 2024; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Roy Hopper was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the 
21Canton Area Heritage Center, and the Canton American Legion, 
 
 
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1where he was a past commander; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Roy Hopper was preceded in death by his son, 
3Rodney, and three brothers, Norman, Dale, and Don; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Roy Hopper is survived by his wife of 60 years, 
5Rachel; his son, Randy (Tory) Hopper; his daughter, Rhonda 
6(Ed) Georgieff; three grandchildren; and two 
7great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
10Roy D. Hopper and extend our sincere condolences to his 
11family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
12further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
14presented to the family of Roy Hopper as an expression of our 
15deepest sympathy.