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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 W. 
4Russell Withers, Jr. of Mt. Vernon, who passed away on January 
524, 2014; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, W. Russell Withers, Jr. was born on December 10, 
71936 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; his parents were W.R. 
8Withers, Sr. and Ruth H. Withers; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, W. Russell Withers, Jr. was the founder of the 
10Withers Broadcasting Companies; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, W. Russell Withers, Jr. was a member of Mt. Vernon 
12Masonic Lodge 31, Scottish Rites/Valley of Southern Illinois in 
13Belleville, the Jefferson County Shrine Club of Mt. Vernon, and 
14Shrine International - AINAD, AINAD Shrine Center, East St. 
15Louis; he was a board member of the Mt. Vernon Convention and 
16Visitors Bureau and the Mt. Vernon Industrial Development 
17Commission; he was a board member and one of the founders of 
18Crime Stoppers of Jefferson County; he served as chairman of 
19the Mt. Vernon Airport Authority and the Illinois Public 
20Airport Association; he was a board member and chairman of the 
21radio board of the National Association of Broadcasters 
22representing Illinois; he was a member of the executive 
 
 
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1committee and co-chairman of the National Association of 
2Broadcasters Political Action Committee, a national trustee 
3for the organization for the past 20 years, and a leading 
4fundraiser for the organization; he was a member of the 
5Congressional Relations Committee; he was a board member of the 
6Library of American Broadcasting, the Associated Press 
7Broadcast Board, SAGA Communications, and Redlands Water and 
8Power; he was a member of the board of trustees at Lincoln 
9Academy of Illinois in Springfield since 1993 and was elected 
10as Regent by the board in 1998; he was an executive board 
11member of the Boy Scouts of America for Western Colorado; he 
12was also chairman of the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and a 
13board member of the Radio Music License Committee; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, W. Russell Withers, Jr. was the recipient of 
15numerous awards and honors, including the Mt. Vernon Citizen of 
16the Year award, the Wally Jorgensen Award, the Broadcasters 
17Foundation's 2003 American Broadcast Pioneer Award, the 
18Illinois Broadcasters Association's Broadcaster of the Year 
19award, the West Virginia Broadcasters Association's 
20Broadcaster of the Year award, the Heritage Award from the 
21Jefferson County African American Heritage Committee, the 
22Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Merit Award, the 
23Sigma Chi Fraternity Distinguished Significant Sig Award, and 
24the Honor of Order of Lincoln, Illinois highest honor for 
25professional accomplishments and public service; he was also 
 
 
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1listed in the Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Who's Who in 
2America, Who's Who in Entertainment, and Who's Who in the 
3World; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, W. Russell Withers, Jr. was preceded in death by 
5his parents; and
 
6    WHEREAS, W. Russell Withers, Jr. is survived by his 
7daughter, Dana R. Withers; his stepson, David Lister; his 
8stepdaughters, Diana Lister and Celeste Hunt; his sister, Lindi 
9W. Janes; and his brothers, Richard Kent Withers, James K. 
10(Pam) Withers, and William J. (Victoria) Withers; therefore, be 
11it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of W. 
15Russell Withers, Jr.; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of W. Russell Withers, Jr. as an 
18expression of our sympathy.