HR0549 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0549 LRB097 13898 KXB 58504 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Lee Ranson is retiring after 51 years in the broadcasting business; and

WHEREAS, Lee Ranson was the only son born to Seymour and Maxine Ranson on November 24, 1941, in Rock Island; and

WHEREAS, Lee attended Franklin Grade School in Peoria and Peoria High School before attending the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado, where he became a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and a member of the Denver University Radio Guild; Lee began his career in broadcasting at the campus radio station, KVDU; and

WHEREAS, Lee returned to Peoria in 1960 to work at WIRL Radio "The Mighty 1290," as the host of the "Night-Time in Peoria Show"; Lee's show received one of the highest Pulse Survey rating in the nation in 1962; that same summer, Lee and WIRL hosted all the teenagers from the first St. Jude Teen March for a dance, where he made his first connection with Jim Maloof and St. Jude; and

WHEREAS, On December 28, 1962, Lee married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Betebenner, and together they had 2 sons, Ron and Brian; and one grandchild; Monica; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, Lee joined the station WXCL "The Country Giant," where he was promoted to Music and Program Director, and the station soon became the number one adult radio station in Central Illinois; Lee was nominated for Country Disc Jockey of the Year numerous times; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, Lee pursued the opportunity to do television at Channel 19 as a weekend weatherman alongside Rollie Keith; and

WHEREAS, In 1981, Lee left radio and joined Channel 19 as a full-time Sales Executive and weekend weather anchor, 3 years later becoming the weekday weather anchor at 5:30 and 10 p.m.; Lee would eventually become the leading sales person and was named Interim Sales manager 3 times; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, Lee joined WEEK-TV after the death of longtime weatherman, Bill Houlihan; upon joining WEEK-TV, he reunited with Jim Maloof for the St. Jude Telethon; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Lee was diagnosed with prostate cancer, detecting it early during his yearly physical exam; as a survivor, Lee is now a spokesperson for Prostate Cancer Awareness; and

WHEREAS, Lee is active in his community, as an elder at the United Presbyterian Church in Peoria and has been an active supporter of the Salvation Army Tree of Lights and Coats for Kids campaigns for over 17 years; he received the Peoria Police Benevolent Fund Raising Award in 1981 and 1982, the Silver Dome Award in 2007, the "Pinnacle of Achievement Award" from the Salvation Army in 2009, and was nominated for Best Weathercast by the Illinois Broadcasters Association multiple times; Lee and his family are members of the United Way "Pillar's Society"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Lee Ranson on his lifetime of public service and professional success, and we wish him well in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Lee Ranson as an expression of our respect and esteem.