HR1191

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of our 
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former colleague L. Bruce Richmond of Murphysboro, who passed 
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away on April 13, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was born on October 17, 1920 in 
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Johnson City; his parents were John and Dottie Richmond; he 
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married LaCleeta Patterson on January 18, 1940; she passed away 
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on December 4, 1999; he later married Elizabeth (Rose) Fear; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond served in the United States Navy 
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during World War II, where he served as a ship painter at Pearl 
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Harbor; his artistic ability led him to learn the trade of 
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sign-painting while in Hawaii, where he also began painting 
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portraits; he later settled in Murphysboro with his family, 
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where he was owner-operator of Artcraft Sign Service for more 
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than 30 years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was active in politics for most 
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of his life as an alderman in Murphysboro for many years and as 
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mayor of Murphysboro in the late 1960s and early 1970s; in 
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1974, he was elected to the Illinois General Assembly, where he 
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served as a member of the House of Representatives with 
 


 






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distinction until his retirement in 1993; and

 
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    WHEREAS, As a member of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives, L. Bruce Richmond was the primary sponsor of 
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the annual appropriations bill for SIU and funding for the 
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university's projects; he was the original sponsor and 
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supporter for state funding for the SIU Business Incubator, now 
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known as the Dunn-Richmond Center; he was also the chief 
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sponsor of bills obtaining funding for the renovation of Davies 
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Gym, Touch of Nature, Pulliam Hall and many other projects at 
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SIU; in addition, he was able to bring funding for many 
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projects in Southern Illinois as chairman of the Agriculture 
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Committee and member of Appropriations; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After retiring, L. Bruce Richmond continued 
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honing his artistic skills, painting dozens of still life 
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animals and portraits; he also did walnut relief carving of 
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birds and animals; in the late 1990s, his artwork was displayed 
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at an exhibit at the Museum Gallery at SIUC; and
 
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    WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was an avid golfer and 
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fisherman; he was an active member of the Elks Club, where he 
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served as state president in 1963, and was a national ritual 
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judge and officer for several years afterwards; and

 
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    WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond was preceded in death by his 
 


 






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wife, LaCleeta; his son, Randall; his parents; and his two 
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sisters and three brothers; and

 
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    WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond is survived by his wife, 
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Elizabeth; his son, Michael, and daughter-in-law, Linda; his 
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daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Richard Morris; his stepson, 
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Kevin Fear; his stepdaughter, Mary George; his grandchildren, 
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Amy Cheatham and Sarah Richmond; his step-granddaughter, Emma; 
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his great-grandson, Noah Cheatham; and his many nieces and 
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nephews; and
 
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    WHEREAS, L. Bruce Richmond will be remembered by all who 
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knew and loved him for his wisdom, dry wit, and quiet strength; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn, along with his family and friends, the death of our 
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former colleague L. Bruce Richmond; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of L. Bruce Richmond as an expression 
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of our sympathy.