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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
Lawrence Alan Gregory, formerly of 
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Naperville, who passed away on May 6, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory was born in 1928; he was the 
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youngest of six children born to Harry and Gretchen Gregory; he 
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lived on the family farm, which is now home to the Fox Valley 
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Shopping Center; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory graduated from Naperville High 
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School in 1947; he attended the University of Illinois for one 
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semester before deciding to transfer to North Central College, 
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where he continued to have ties for many years; and


 
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    WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory met Charmaine Cakora at the local 
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roller skating rink; the pair married in 1952; in 1954, he 
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decided to leave farming and open up his own electrical 
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contracting company, Gregory Electric, Inc.; under the company 
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motto of "Let Larry light it", Gregory Electric, Inc. 
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flourished, employing over 100 employees at one point; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory enjoyed farming and all the hard 
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work and challenges it presented; he also enjoyed electrical 
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projects, eventually wiring his first home at age 16; he was 
 


 






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also an active member of 4-H and was once selected to attend 
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the 4-H National Congress; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory served as a volunteer for 
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countless community projects and service organizations, 
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including the Board of Trustees at Edward Hospital, North 
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Central College, and Grace United Methodist Church; he served 
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as president of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, a 
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member of the Naperville Planning Commission, and a member of 
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the Naperville Zoning Board of Appeals; he served on the 
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Naperville Riverwalk Commission and coordinated various stages 
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of the riverwalk's construction; he served as President of the 
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Rotary Club of Naperville and served on the board of the 
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Wheatland Plowing Match Association; he also served on the 
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Naperville YMCA Board of Directors; he especially enjoyed 
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getting involved in "hands on" projects such as the Riverwalk, 
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Safety Town, the construction of Grace UMC, and the North 
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Central College athletic facility; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory was recognized as a 
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distinguished alumnus from the NHS Class of '47; he was 
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inducted into the Hall of Fame at North Central College and 
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received their outstanding alumnus award in 1977; in 2005, he 
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was selected to receive the Life Achievement Award by the 
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Jaycees and was honored by being named one of Naperville's 25 
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Most Influential People; due to his contributions and 
 


 






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leadership in building the outdoor athletic facility, Mr. 
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Gregory and his wife were both honored by North Central College 
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with the dedication of the Gregory Arena in the Merner Field 
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House; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In his spare time, Lawrence Gregory enjoyed the 
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sport of water skiing; his talent led him to teach hundreds of 
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his friends and relatives to ski and love the sport as he did; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory is survived by his wife, 
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Charmaine; his children, Michael (Diane) Gregory, Dean (Sindy) 
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Gregory, Jeffrey Gregory of, and Pamela (Allen) Carius; and his 
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14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH 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 Lawrence Alan Gregory; 
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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 Lawrence Gregory as an expression of 
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our sympathy.