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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of William J. O'Connell Jr. of Peoria, who
4passed away on September 23, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. was born on July 23, 1929,
6in Kewanee; he was the son of William J. O'Connell Sr. and
7Josephine (Robinson) O'Connell; he married Helen Rose Engel on
8January 26, 1957, in New Blaine, Arkansas; and
 
9    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. earned his bachelor's and
10master's degrees from Bradley University; and
 
11    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. was a lifelong employee of
12the Journal Star, where he retired in 1996 as the newspaper's
13political reporter, covering the Illinois Legislature; he was
14the author of the newspaper's "Off the Political Grapevine"
15column; and
 
16    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. was named Illinois
17Journalist of the Year by Northern Illinois University in 1986;
18he was the recipient of a national award from the American
19Political Science Association and was honored by the Associated
20Press, the Illinois Education Association, and the Illinois
21Valley Press Club; he also served as president of the Illinois

 

 

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1Legislative Correspondents Association; and
 
2    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. formed the St. Patrick's
3Society of Peoria with 4 of his friends in 1980; he was a
4lifetime member of the organization and remained active as an
5ex-officio board member; he served as grand marshal of the
6Peoria St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1996; he was also a founder
7of the local chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, where
8he was a member for 23 years and served as president from 1999
9to 2000; and
 
10    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. was designated as Hibernian
11of the Year in 1998 and was given the AOH Appreciation Award in
121997 for his work with the Ancient Order of Hibernians; and
 
13    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. was a dedicated parishioner
14of St. Bernard's Parish in Peoria, where he served many years
15as an usher at Sunday services; and
 
16    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. was preceded in his death by
17his parents and his son, William Francis O'Connell; and
 
18    WHEREAS, William O'Connell Jr. is survived by his wife,
19Helen; his children, Kelly (Dan) Kennelly, Thomas (Linda)
20O'Connell, Timothy (Anita) O'Connell, Molly (George) Phoenix,
21and David (Kristi) O'Connell; his 12 grandchildren; and his 3

 

 

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1great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
4his family and friends, the passing of William J. O'Connell
5Jr.; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of William O'Connell Jr. as an
8expression of our sympathy.