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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Leonard G. "Spunky" Patton Jr. of West 
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Frankfort, who passed away on November 9, 2008; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Leonard Patton Jr. was born on August 21, 1945 in 
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West Frankfort; his parents were L. Goebel Patton and Eileen H. 
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Howell; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Leonard Patton Jr. was a graduate of Southern 
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Illinois University; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Leonard Patton Jr. served his country with pride 
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and distinction as a member of the United States Army; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Leonard Patton Jr. was the owner and operator of 
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the Howell Insurance Agency in West Frankfort, which was 
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founded in 1914; a member of the third generation of the 
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family-owned agency, he became fully involved in the business 
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in the early 1970s; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Leonard Patton Jr. was an avid supporter of youth 
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and Redbird athletics; the youth tackle program Mr. Patton 
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helped to create enjoyed its inaugural season in the fall of 
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1974 and lasted for ten years, before he helped to bring it to 
 


 






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life once more in the late 1990s; he also coached girl's 
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softball in tandem with Frankfort Community Park legend Bill 
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McKee and helped bring about a grade school flag football 
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program in the mid 1990s; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Leonard Patton Jr. was preceded in death by his 
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mother, Eileen Lucas, and his sister, Colleen Hickey; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Leonard Patton Jr. is survived by his wife, Susan; 
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his sons, Jason Patton and Ryan Patton; his daughters, Trish 
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Blank and her husband, Bill, and their children, Ria and 
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William, and Torie Patton; his father, L. Goebel Patton; and 
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his sister, Penelope Tippy and her husband, Roger; therefore, 
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be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Leonard G. "Spunky" 
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Patton Jr.; 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 Leonard Patton Jr. as an expression 
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of our sympathy.