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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Don
4Hickman of Springfield, who passed away on November 19, 2011;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Don Hickman was born on September 1, 1937, in
7Trenton, Tennessee; he was the son of Reese and Janie Maude
8Hickman; he married Betty Baltz on January 5, 1962, in
9Rutherford, Tennessee; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Don Hickman proudly served his country as a member
11of the Tennessee National Guard; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Don Hickman had a long and distinguished career in
13journalism; he began his career working with the Dixie Network
14in Tennessee in 1956, earning a position as the evening news
15anchor for the network 2 years later; he then moved to Memphis,
16where he worked for WMC-TV covering stories such as Dr. Martin
17Luther King, Jr.'s assassination and the "James Meredith
18Enrollment" at the University of Mississippi; after winning the
19coveted "Journalist of the Year Award", he became a
20correspondent for NBC News in Chicago; he also worked as a
21reporter and newscaster for KSTP in Minneapolis; in 2004, he
22co-founded Springfield Scene Magazine, a publication focusing

 

 

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1on local charities and community events; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Don Hickman is best known for his 29 years as a
3newscaster at WICS in Springfield, where he produced several
4projects earning him many awards, including a national Emmy
5nomination for his "Living with AIDS" documentary; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In 2001, Don Hickman earned an honorary doctorate
7degree from MacMurray College for Public Service; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Don Hickman took great pride in his annual charity
9golf outings, which raised thousands of dollars for various
10organizations throughout central Illinois; he also enjoyed
11golfing, reading, and spending time with his family and
12friends; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Don Hickman is survived by his wife, Betty; his
14sons, Barry (wife, Christina) and Todd (wife, Dawn); his
15grandchildren, Stephanie, Hallie, Ryan, Maggie, Hunter, and
16Jackson; his sister, Pam Flowers; and his many nieces and
17nephews; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Don
21Hickman; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Don Hickman as an expression of our
3sympathy.