SR0954 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0954 LRB097 23243 GRL 72069 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Edward T. Graham, who passed away on July 17, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Edward Graham was born in Columbus, Ohio; he moved to Wheaton with his family at the age of 12; and

WHEREAS, Edward Graham left high school early to join the United States Army during World War II; during the war, he was stationed in Texas, where he worked on airplanes; after the war, he worked part-time at a law firm and in the legal department of Standard Oil of Indiana; after earning his GED, he went to college during the evenings, eventually earning his bachelor's degree in philosophy from DePaul University and his law degree from John Marshall Law School; and

WHEREAS, Edward Graham began his legal career in Standard Oil's legal department, where he became well-versed in real estate transactions, overseeing the acquisition of right of way for pipelines; after his wife's father's farm was targeted and ultimately acquired by the federal government to make way for Fermilab, he was drawn into condemnation law; and

WHEREAS, Edward Graham practiced law for over 40 years at his law firm in Wheaton, where he specialized in representing landowners whose property was being condemned by government bodies; he also represented Standard Oil (now Amoco) as an outside legal counsel, overseeing zoning for the company's service stations; and

WHEREAS, Edward Graham is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Marjorie; his daughter, Katherine Anderson; his sons, Edward T. Jr., William, and J. Phillip; and his 10 grandchildren; 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 and friends, the passing of Edward T. Graham; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Edward Graham as an expression of our sympathy.