SR0998 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0998 LRB096 24165 GRL 43601 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William Giddens; and

WHEREAS, William Giddens was born on August 3, 1925, in St. Joseph, Missouri; his parents were William and Mary Jane Giddens; and

WHEREAS, William Giddens joined the United States Navy in 1942; after attending boot camp in Farragut, Idaho, he served on the U.S.S. Steamer Bay in the south Pacific during World War II; he subsequently returned to Great Lakes, where he met and married Mary Lou Jensen; shortly after, he was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, After his stint with the U.S. Navy, William Giddens attended barber school and later owned his own shop in Waukegan; he was elected the first alderman of the new 7th Ward in North Chicago and served as chairman of the body responsible for building the city hall; he later left his barbershop to join the Lake County Sheriff's office, where he retired after serving his community for over 20 years; and

WHEREAS, William Giddens traveled to all 50 states, but loved Wyoming and Montana the most; during his travels, he went to Yellowstone Park 55 times; he was also an avid photographer and an avid John Wayne fan; and

WHEREAS, William Giddens was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Illinois Police Association; he was a member of the Masonic lodge for 50 years, Scottish Rite and the Tebala Shrine Temple; he was also a member of the Tebala Motor Patrol and a lifetime member of the VFW Post 7448; and

WHEREAS, William Giddens is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, and his many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of William Giddens; and be it further

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