SR1206 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1206 LRB099 14418 MST 38516 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Stephen "Steve" Cannon, who passed away on September 17, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Steve Cannon was born on October 28, 1940 to Dorothy (nee Seymour) Dalbey and Leland Cannon and was raised on a farm in Oakwood; he was married to Sherry (nee Downing) Cannon for 29 years; and

WHEREAS, Steve Cannon attended the University of Illinois for a semester before joining his brothers as a licensed barber in Danville for 50 years and operating his own barbershop; he also was involved in the insurance business for 30 years, eventually developing a niche in auto racing liability insurance; and

WHEREAS, Steve Cannon joined the Danville Fire Department in 1968, serving the community for 29 years; he was named Firefighter of the Year, served as union president, and achieved the rank of Lieutenant; he was active in politics as a staunch Democrat in Vermilion County; he was elected twice as Chairman of the Vermilion County Board of Review; and

WHEREAS, Steve Cannon's true passion always was auto racing; he began racing Modifieds in the early 1960s, even building his own cars, and was a natural talent both mechanically and behind the wheel; he advanced to the United States Auto Club (USAC) ranks in 1969, driving Midgets, Sprints, and Silver Crowns; he had 21 USAC Midget victories and 12 track records in only 219 career starts, placing him 22nd on the all-time USAC wins list; he finished in the USAC Midget Top 10 in point standings on 4 occasions, running only half (or fewer) of the races during these seasons; he was the 1974 USAC Indoor Midget Champion; he tallied 10 Top 10 finishes in only 31 Silver Crown starts and was the winner of a 50-mile Open Competition Sprint Feature on the Springfield Mile in 1971; he was recently nominated for the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Steve Cannon was an avid sports fan; he loved attending Illini football and basketball games with his friends and family; he played in a tennis league and enjoyed watching it on TV; he played pool with his friends around Danville and was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan; and

WHEREAS, Steve Cannon was preceded in death by his father; his brother, Larry Cannon; his stepfather, Frank Dalbey; and his uncles, Kenneth and Hubert Seymour; and

WHEREAS, Steve Cannon is survived by his mother, Dorothy Dalbey; his wife, Sherry; his daughter, Pamela Lynn Cannon-Garcia (Michael); his son, Stephen Alan Cannon, Jr.; his grandchildren, Chloe Marie Garcia and Cannon Michael Garcia; his brother, Mikel Cannon (Mary Kay); his aunt, Ida Belle (Seymour) Condon; his nieces, Jodie, Jill, Christine, and Cathi; and many cousins and close friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Stephen "Steve" Cannon, 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 Stephen Cannon as an expression of our deepest sympathy.