SJ0011 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0011 LRB094 08091 CSA 40899 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, William "Bill" C. Harris of Pontiac, a longtime state lawmaker, former President of the Illinois Senate, and former Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Trust Companies, died on December 30, 2004; and

WHEREAS, He was born May 7, 1921 in Pontiac, the son of Raleigh J. and Bernadine (Cullen) Harris; he graduated from Pontiac Grade School and Pontiac Township High School; he entered Michigan State University in the fall of 1941, and in December 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy; while at Great Lakes, he was named honor man out of a class of 750 in the naval program; during World War II, he served as aviation chief ordinance man in the South Pacific; he was honorably discharged in December of 1945 after serving four years; after returning to Pontiac, he joined the R.J. Harris Funeral Home as a partner; on May 31, 1947, he married Jeanne Turck in Pontiac at the original Grace Episcopal Church on the square; and

WHEREAS, In May 1948, he became the charter president of Pontiac Jaycees; he was also a charter member of the Saint James Hospital advisory board, a member of the Moose, Pontiac Elks Lodge, Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Voiture 8 et 8 in Pontiac; and

WHEREAS, William Harris was a public official who was committed to serving the people of Illinois; first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1954 at the age of 33, he was the House Whip during his six years of service in that body; in 1960, he was elected to the Senate, and during his 16 years of service, he held the position of assistant majority leader and was elected the first president of the Senate, a position created under the 1970 Illinois Constitution; Senator Harris was elected "Most Effective Senator" three successive years; in 1977, he was appointed by then Gov. Jim Thompson as Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Trust Companies; he held that position until he retired in January 1991; and

WHEREAS, William Harris was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Miami in 1968; he served as trustee of the Humiston Haven Nursing Home, trustee of the Appolos Camp, Bennet Humiston Trust since 1975, and trustee on the Floyd and Alta Byrne Trust; he served as a senior vice president of Cole Taylor Bank, as a board member of the Community Bank of Pittsfield, and as ambassador at-large to the Community Bankers of Illinois; he was chairman of the World Trade Association of Illinois for two years, a board member of the Cradle in Evanston for many years, and then was an Emeritus Member of the Cradle Board; he was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Pontiac; and

WHEREAS, A staunch Republican, he was well-respected regardless of one's political persuasion and was a man who saw his strength as getting people to see others' viewpoints and in being able to make accommodations to solve problems in this unique and diverse State; he will be remembered as a legislator who was truly committed to making Illinois a better place to live for all its citizens, and he was known to "reach across the political aisle" and was a great people person who positively impacted the lives of many people whose lives he touched; and

WHEREAS, On the statewide scene, the City of Pontiac was synonymous with Bill Harris; he was a part of the history and depth of Pontiac and of Illinois history, serving when the State government was undergoing major reforms from biennial budgets to annual budgets, from six-month legislative sessions every two years to annual sessions; he worked at making the legislative branch an equal branch of government, engaging in the efforts to implement many provisions of the 1970 Illinois Constitution; and

WHEREAS, Many remember Bill Harris as always having a smile and an upbeat, can-do attitude; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his mother, Bernadine Harris, his father, Raleigh J. Harris, his sister, Helen Elizabeth Harris, and his brother, Raleigh J. Harris Jr.; and

WHEREAS, The passing of William C. Harris will be felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife Jeanne; his two children, Barbara A. Harris and Charles M. (Robin) Harris; and his two grandchildren, Lindsey J. Schrof and Jenna Harris; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we mourn the passing of William C. Harris and we extend to his family our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.