HR0628

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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
Francis 
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John Taylor of Virginia, who passed away on September 19, 2009; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Francis Taylor was born on June 26, 1923 in 
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Springfield; he was the son of John H. and Edna E. (Taylor) 
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Taylor; he married Dorothy Loring on November 28, 1953 at 
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Ebenezer United Methodist Church near Rushville; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Francis Taylor graduated from Virginia High 
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School in 1940; he then earned his degree in agricultural 
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economics from the University of Minnesota in 1945; after 
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graduation, he briefly worked at General Mills prior to 
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beginning his farming career; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Francis Taylor formerly served as president of the 
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Beardstown Jaycees, president of the Illinois Jaycees, and vice 
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president of the U.S. Jaycees; in 1961, he was appointed to the 
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Illinois State Fair Board and later served as an assistant to 
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the Illinois Director of Agriculture; from 1964 until 1968, he 
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worked as an assistant to Illinois Governors Otto Kerner and 
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Sam Shapiro; he later served as an assistant to U.S. Senator 
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Adlai Stevenson from 1970 to 1980; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Francis Taylor formerly served on the 
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Jacksonville Journal-Courier's editorial board; he volunteered 
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for several water and wetlands committees and advisory boards, 
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which included his election to the position of president of the 
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Illinois Valley Flood Control Association; in addition, he 
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served as one of the members of the 20-member National Wetlands 
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Policy Advisory Board, which was chaired by New Jersey Governor 
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Thomas Kean; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Francis Taylor was a life member of the Illinois 
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State Historical Society and served two terms as a director of 
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the organization; he was on the advisory board of the Lincoln 
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legal papers; he served two terms as a trustee for Lincoln 
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College in Lincoln and volunteered as a director of the Cass 
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County Historical and Genealogical Society; he was also a 
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member of the Chandlerville Lodge 724 A.F. & A.M. and the Ansar 
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Shrine Temple in Springfield; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Francis Taylor was preceded in death by his wife, 
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Dorothy; his brother, Cheslea Taylor; and his sister, Marjorie 
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Taylor; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Francis Taylor is survived by his nephews, C. 
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Charles Taylor (wife, Judy), Henry Chandler Taylor, and William 
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J. Taylor (wife, Teri); his several great-nieces, 
 


 






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great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews; 
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and his sister-in-law, Mary Louise; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn, along with his  family and friends, the passing of 
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Francis John Taylor; 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 Francis Taylor as an expression of 
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our sympathy.