HR1124 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1124 LRB098 21415 MST 59853 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Stanley D. Banash "Tex" on the publication of his third book, Roadside History of Illinois (Mountain Press, 2013); and

WHEREAS, Roadside History of Illinois is the first book in more than 30 years to focus on the history of the State; and

WHEREAS, Roadside History of Illinois is designed to educate and guide motorists and tourists along old U.S. highways, State roadways, and county roads to the people, places, and events that contributed to the State's historic development; and

WHEREAS, Roadside History of Illinois highlights the 7 regions of the State - Southern Illinois: Between the Great Rivers; Western Illinois: Utopia on the Prairie; Central Illinois: Lincoln's Legacy; Eastern Illinois: More than You Expect; Northern Illinois: Rock River and Beyond; Greater Chicagoland: Metropolitan Diversity; and Chicago: City of Neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, Roadside History of Illinois provides more than 125 historic and modern images and features over 250 cities, towns, and villages; and

WHEREAS, Roadside History of Illinois includes a special introduction by the late Dee Brown, author of the internationally acclaimed book, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, and a former agriculture librarian at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana; and

WHEREAS, Roadside History of Illinois has been praised by former U.S. Senator Adlai E. Stevenson III and Chief Deputy Director of the Illinois State Archives Wayne C. Temple, Ph.D.; and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash retains a great love of Illinois, Civil War, and Old West history that began at an early age and continues to this day; and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash served 4 years in the United States Air Force (Strategic Air Command), graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in Political Science (1968), and graduated from Roosevelt University with a Master of Arts degree in Urban Studies (1972), and owned and operated a home-based public relations, association management, and political consulting business (1972-2014); and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash served as an administrative assistant for press relations to Lt. Gov. Neil F. Hartigan (1973-1974) and served as Executive Director of the Illinois Law Revision Commission (1976-1984); and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash authored more than 10 feature articles for various national and local publications and reviewed more than 30 books for national publications; and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash authored 2 earlier books - Best of Dee Brown's West (Clear Light, 1998) and Dee Brown's Civil War Anthology (Clear Light, 1998); and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash became knowledgeable about a life-saving maneuver after attending a private luncheon with Dr. Henry Heimlich, who devised the Heimlich Maneuver to save a person's life when choking and brought the maneuver to the attention of State Rep. Ralph C. Capparelli, who authored the legislation in 1976 and again in 1977 to make it mandatory for all eating establishments in Illinois to display a poster that explains the life-saving procedure on choking victims as devised by Dr. Henry Heimlich; the legislation became law on January 1, 1978 and, since then, Stan Banash has been called upon to use the Heimlich Maneuver 3 times, thereby, saving the lives of 3 people; and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash wrote the speech delivered by Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs during his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York on July 26, 1987; and

WHEREAS, The speech also included the previously unknown information that former Baseball Commissioner Albert B. "Happy" Chandler overruled the league's 15 owners who earlier opposed the entry of Jackie Robinson into the National League, to bring Jackie Robinson up to the Brooklyn Dodgers; if Commissioner Chandler had not taken the action when he did, Jackie Robinson would not have broken the color barrier in 1947; and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash has been an active member of his community, serving as Secretary (1985-1987) and President (1988-1994) of the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce, Chairperson of the 41st Ward Zoning Advisory Board (1993-2011), established by 41 Ward Aid. Brian Doherty, and Sheriff of the Westerners-Chicago Corral (1996-2001); and

WHEREAS, Stan Banash is a member of the Western Writers of America, Society of Midland Authors, Western History Association, Westerners-Chicago Corral, Westerners International, and American Legion Edison Park Post 541; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Stanley D. Banash on the release of his third book, Roadside History of Illinois, wish him continued success in his writing and in his efforts to further the history of Illinois among its residents, and we wish him happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Stanley D. Banash as a symbol of our esteem and respect.