SR0449

LRB096 15013 KXB 29960 r





  
1

SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3
learn of the death of Lester Pritchard of Urbana, who passed 
4
away on October 12, 2009; and
  
 
5
    WHEREAS, Mr. Pritchard was born September 25, 1949, in 
6
Galesburg, a son of William and Barbara Bauer Pritchard; he 
7
married Barbara Cotter on November 17, 1990, in Urbana; and
  
 
8
    WHEREAS,
Mr. Pritchard graduated from the University of 
9
Illinois and was a disability rights activist on the local, 
10
State, and federal levels; he was appointed by the Governor to 
11
chair the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, and 
12
he was on the Board of Champaign County Healthcare Consumers;


13
Mr. Pritchard, along with his wife,  was co-founder of the 
14
Campaign For Real Choice In Illinois, dedicated to "full 
15
inclusion" for people with disabilities; he was a board member 
16
and board chair for P.A.C.E.; and he also served 16 years as a 
17
member of the Urbana Human Relations Commission; and
  
 
18
    WHEREAS, He and his wife founded Citizens for HOMES 
19
(Housing Options Meeting Equitable Standards) in 1997, to 
20
promote low-cost accessible features in new housing; and
 
21
    WHEREAS, In 2007 he was awarded the James R. Burgess Sr. 
 


 






SR0449
- 2 -
LRB096 15013 KXB 29960 r




1
Humanitarian Award for furthering civil rights by the Champaign 
2
County Board; and in 2008 he received the American Bar 
3
Association's Paul G. Hearne Award for Disability Rights; and
  
 
4
    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; and
  
 
5
    WHEREAS, Lester Pritchard is  survived by his wife, Barbara; 
6
his  sister, Sarah (David) Nielsen; his brothers, Bill 
7
(Jennifer) Pritchard and John (Jane) Pritchard; his 
8
stepbrother, Christopher (Regina) Pritchard; and several 
9
nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
  
 
10
    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
11
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
12
his family and friends, the passing of Lester Pritchard; and be 
13
it further
  
 
14
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15
presented to the family of Lester Pritchard as a symbol of our 
16
sincere sympathy.