SR0450 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0450 LRB097 14543 KXB 59398 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to honor the life of former Illinois State Senator Wendell E. Jones, formerly of Palatine, who passed away on October 25, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Senator Wendell Jones was an exemplary lawmaker who was held in high regard for his 9 years of public service in the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, He was born on November 4, 1937 in Battle Creek, Michigan; he attended Ball State University, where he received his B.S. in Speech and Hearing Therapy and an M.S. in Special Education; and

WHEREAS, He started his 24-year educational career as a speech therapist for District 15 in Palatine and later became the director of Special Education; in addition, he later served as an Assistant Superintendent in Cook County; he later became the Director of the DuPage/West Cook Regional Special Education Association; and

WHEREAS, He was also successful in business, serving as a salesman for Clayton Metals, Co. and forming Wenco, a promotional products company; and

WHEREAS, He served as the Palatine Village President and as a Trustee, for one term in each office; he was a delegate to the 1980 Republican National Convention; and he served as a Republican precinct captain for 40 years; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones sponsored laws to protect children from sex offenders, to reopen the "world-class" Arlington International Race Course, and to support charter school reform; he helped to pass the Illinois Safe Neighborhoods Act; and

WHEREAS, He was a strong advocate for funding special education and mental health programs; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones served with distinction on the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence and fought for domestic violence shelters like the Women In Need Growing Stronger (WINGS) in his district; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones supported legislation to protect the environment and helped to develop the Wilke Marsh with the Palatine Park District; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones was a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Local Government, Revenue, and Property Tax Reform; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones served as the Vice Chairman for the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and as the Minority Spokesman for the Housing and Community Affairs Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones led a distinguished group of lawmakers with the informal Capitol Committee on Currency Exchanges; and

WHEREAS, He always kept Illinois Senate committees in stitches with his humor; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones was never at a loss for words or a good one-liner when it came to debating the Illinois budget; he admired the man who once said, "The 9 most terrifying words in the English language are: "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help"; and

WHEREAS, Senator Jones and his wife reluctantly found the climate of Florida to be more hospitable and chose to retire in the warmth of the Sunshine State; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Dr. Doris Allen; and

WHEREAS, Senator Wendell Jones is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Jane Ellen (Condon); his beloved children, Timothy W. Jones, Julie A. (Thomas) Healy, and Janell L. Chandler; he took great pride in spoiling his 4 cherished grandchildren, Ryan, Micaela, McKayla, and Taylor; he is also survived by his brothers-in-law, James (Patricia) Condon and Warren (Carol) Condon; and 5 nieces; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Senator Wendell Jones will be deeply felt by his fellow legislators, admirers, and constituents, who will fondly remember him for his intelligence, compassion, wit, and graciousness; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, former constituents, and admirers, the passing of former State Senator Wendell Jones; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of former State Senator Wendell Jones as an expression of our respect and as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.