HR1333 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1333 LRB099 22259 MST 49633 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald E. "Ron" Gray of Jacksonville, who passed away on June 7, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Gray was born in Salina, Kansas to Clarence and Mary Gray on December 27, 1936; he graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Salina and attended Kansas Wesleyan University; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Gray worked in sales in Salina, Kansas and then North Platte, Nebraska, before moving to Springfield to manage the WMAY radio station; in 1968, he moved his family to Jacksonville to manage WJIL radio which began an almost 50-year love affair with the Jacksonville community; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Gray was active in the American Business Club and served as Chairman for the Chamber of Commerce, the Comprehensive Planning Committee, the CACHE campaign, and other committees; he also worked with the Central Park Plaza Association and Chapin Big Country Days; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Gray received numerous honors for his work, including Jaycees Boss of the Year, American Business Club National Project Manager of the Year, the Illinois College Distinguished Service Award, the Friend of the Theatre Award, and most recently, he was elected a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow and received the Chamber Circle of Excellence Award; and

WHEREAS, After retiring from WJIL, Ronald Gray managed the Holiday Inn in Jacksonville and served on the Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board; it was that involvement that led to the establishment of the Grierson Society and General Grierson Civil War Days, a tourism attraction that brought visitors to the area for 20 years; he received the first Friend of Tourism award from the Bureau; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Gray's passion for history led to many other community projects, the Save the Wheel committee that brought the ferris wheel to Community Park, helping to establish the Woodlawn Farm Underground Railroad site and the Jacksonville Parks Foundation, and the restoration of the Historic Bandstands at Prairie Land and Community Park; he loved old houses, antique cars, radios and circus toys, riding his scooter around Jacksonville and Marco Island, Florida, and driving his "bucket list" 2002 Camaro convertible; he cherished his friends and family and took great pleasure in the accomplishments of his five grandsons and his only granddaughter, who teasingly called him "Papa Pufferfish", and the joy of a new generation of great grandbabies to spoil; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Gray was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Betty Jane Gray; and his first wife, Joyce Knudsen Gray; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Gray is survived by his wife, Mary Riley Gray; his son, Stuart Gray; his daughter, Sherri (Greg) Gray Bergschneider; his stepchildren, Chris (Cheryl) Green and Brenda (Bob) Green Cunningham; his six grandchildren, Paul Cody (Sara) Gray, Brady and Brandon (Ashley) Bergschneider, Michael and Connor Cunningham, and Elena Green; his great-grandchildren, Bentley, Kennedy and Hadley Gray, and Parker Bergschneider; his sister, Patricia Marcotte; and four nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ronald E. "Ron" Gray, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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