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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Barry Keefe of Wheaton, who passed away
4on January 10, 2016 at the age of 62; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Barry Keefe was born on Chicago's North Side; he
6grew up in Niles, Michigan, where he began his career as a
7weekend disc jockey at WNIL at 17, while still in high school;
8he earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Grand
9Valley State University at Allendale, Michigan, where he was
10also the news director for the college radio station; he later
11worked for stations in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Cedar Rapids,
12Iowa; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Barry Keefe retired in 2008 after 30 years as
14director of news and public affairs at WTMX FM 101.9; he was
15best known for his long run as news anchor on Eric Ferguson and
16Kathy Hart's top-rated morning show, "Eric and Kathy" on The
17Mix; he joined the hot adult-contemporary station in 1978 when
18it was still known as WCLR; he also taught sound engineering at
19the Illinois Institute of Art from 2010 to 2014 and served as
20their Assistant Director of Admissions; and
 
21    WHEREAS, During his career, Barry Keefe won or shared more
22than 75 awards for his work; some of his honors included

 

 

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1winning The Associated Press' award for Best Enterprise and
2Investigative Reporting in 1982, the AP's awards in 1986 for
3Best Editorial, Best Documentary, and Best Public Service
4Announcement, the United Press International's award for Best
5Newswriter in 1991, and the Illinois Broadcasters
6Association's Silver Dome Award in 2008 for the Best Public
7Affairs Program; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Barry Keefe was involved in a variety of volunteer
9activities, including working to save the Wheaton Grand Theater
10in Wheaton, forming WTMX's volunteer fair, and offering his
11time to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the DuPage
12County Suburban Emergency Management Project, and the Glen
13Ellyn-based Teen Parent Connection; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Barry Keefe is survived by his wife, Kathy, and
15his sons, Alex and Aidan; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18Barry Keefe, and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
19friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to the family of Barry Keefe as an expression of our
22deepest sympathy.