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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Charles Roger Ezard of Jacksonville, who
4passed away on April 30, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Roger Ezard was born in Mattoon on June 22, 1936
6to Harry and Esther Cunningham Ezard; he graduated from
7Jacksonville High School in 1954, where he was on 2 basketball
8teams that made appearances in the State tournament; he
9received a scholarship to play basketball at Vanderbuilt
10University in Nashville, Tennessee; he then attended Western
11Illinois University and Illinois College, where he earned his
12bachelor's degree and played football, basketball, and
13baseball; he later earned his master's degree in education from
14the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; he married Sally
15Brown on July 5, 1963 at the Franklin United Methodist Church;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Roger Ezard taught and coached basketball on the
18varsity level at Ottawa-Marquette, Wynona, Franklin, and North
19Greene high schools before coming to Turner Junior High School
20in 1965 to serve as a teacher and coach; he went on to coach
21boys' basketball at Turner for 30 years, establishing an 83%
22winning percentage and making several appearances at the State
23tournament; he also coached track and field and football and

 

 

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1was later inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of
2Fame and the Jacksonville High School Hall of Fame; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Roger Ezard was a longtime member of Central
4Christian Church and served as deacon for several years; he was
5a past-President and a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers
6Association and enjoyed meeting with his former colleagues,
7coaches, and friends; he ran the Jacksonville Pony-Colt League
8and coached there for several years; as a young man, he played
9with the Jacksonville Redlegs and Merchants and was a member of
10his church softball team; he was a devoted fan of the St. Louis
11Cardinals, the Jacksonville High School Crimsons, the
12University of Illinois Fighting Illini, and Illinois College
13Athletics; he had recently become a fixture in the stands
14cheering on the Lenz Field Warriors; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Roger Ezard loved line dancing and attending
16bluegrass and country-western music events with his wife,
17following his children's and grandchildren's events, and
18golfing with his friends; he enjoyed creating gifts for his
19grandson's teammates and spending time with his companion
20"grand-dog" Sage; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Roger Ezard is survived by his wife, Sally; his 2
22sons, Tony Ezard and H. Andrew (Jenissa) Ezard; his 4
23grandchildren, Haley Ezard, Abby Ezard, Kaylee Ezard, and

 

 

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1Andrew Charles "Drew" Ezard; and his cousin, Carol (Jim) Knapp;
2therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Charles Roger Ezard, and extend our sincere condolences to his
6family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Roger Ezard as an expression of our
10deepest sympathy.