SR1116 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1116 LRB096 24686 KXB 44644 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of State Representative Richard P. Myers of Colchester, who passed away on December 1, 2010; and

WHEREAS, He was born to John and Martha Myers on December 27, 1947 in Macomb; he married Christine Sims on August 9, 1975 in North Henderson; he graduated from Colchester High School in 1966 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Western Illinois University in 1973; and

WHEREAS, Representative Myers farmed his family farm for 29 years and served 6 years in the United States Army Reserves; he was an active member and elder of the Scotland Trinity Presbyterian Church; and

WHEREAS, During his farming career, Representative Myers was active in the Farm Bureau organization, serving in various capacities at the local, State, and national levels; he served 12 years as a member of the board of directors of the Illinois Farm Bureau; during that time he represented the Illinois Farm Bureau on the board of directors of the Interstate Producers Livestock Association, the U.S. Meat Export Federation, and numerous other agricultural organizations; and

WHEREAS, Representative Myers served several years as minority spokesperson of the Appropriations-Higher Education Committee and was a strong advocate for increased funding for the State's public colleges and universities, as well as for the State's community college system; and

WHEREAS, Representative Myers served on the Agriculture and Conservation, Higher Education, State Government Administration, Elections and Campaign Reform, and Renewable Energy Committees; he served as a member of the Passenger Rail Caucus, a group of legislators advocating for continued and expanded Amtrak service throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, Representative Myers was co-chair of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, a bi-partisan legislative commission of members from both chambers; their responsibilities include forecasting State revenue projections, oversight of employee insurance programs, and conducting hearings on the proposed closure of State facilities; and

WHEREAS, Beyond the State of Illinois, Representative Myers served as co-chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee of the Midwest Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments; and

WHEREAS, Representative Myers was preceded in death by his son, Nicholas; his father, John; and his brother, Wendell, who died in infancy; and

WHEREAS, Representative Myers is survived by his wife, Chris; his daughter, Alison; his mother, Martha; his brothers, Donald (Sue) Myers and Charles (Ann) Myers; and numerous nieces and nephews; and

WHEREAS, Representative Myers will be remembered as a thoughtful and hardworking legislator who always put his family and constituents first; 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, friends, and constituents, the passing of State Representative Richard Myers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of State Representative Richard Myers as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.