SR1645 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1645 LRB099 20986 MST 45982 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gerald "Gerry" Brighton of Urbana, who passed away on February 13, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Brighton earned his bachelor's degree in accounting with honors that included the Bronze Tablet Award at the University of Illinois in 1941; he served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and then returned to the university as a graduate student, earning a Master of Science in 1947 and his Ph.D. in Accounting in 1953; his doctoral dissertation, "The Social Responsibility of Public Accountants", signaled his lifelong commitment to public service; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Brighton married Lois in 1949; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Brighton was appointed Assistant Professor of Accounting in 1954, Associate Professor in 1957, and full Professor in 1969; he was appointed to the endowed position of Ernst and Whinney Distinguished Professor of Accountancy in 1983; and

WHEREAS, From 1946 until his retirement from the university in 1988, Gerald Brighton served as doctoral adviser to 30 Ph.D. candidates and taught innumerable accounting students; he remained active in campus affairs throughout his career and after retirement as a member of the Faculty Senate; the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trustees of the State University Retirement System; the Faculty Benefits Committee; the General University Policy Committee; the Athletic Board; the Calendar Committee (Chair); the University YMCA Board of Directors (24 years); and as associate head of the Department of Accounting; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Brighton's professional honors include Ph.D. Alumnus of the Year from the Accountancy Graduate Students Association (1983); AACSB Faculty Fellow (1978-1979); Touche Ross Curriculum Development Grant (1978); Phi Beta Sigma; Beta Alpha Psi; Beta Gamma Sigma; Phi Kappa Phi; life membership in the Illinois CPA Society; and the Nestigen Alumni Award from the University YMCA; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Brighton was elected as Alderman of the Fifth Ward of Urbana in 1967 and became one of six Democrats on the 14-member city council; during his first year in office, he proposed to outlaw real estate practices that were preventing African-Americans from buying or renting property in "white" neighborhoods; due to his efforts, the Urbana City Council passed both a Fair Housing Ordinance and an ordinance establishing the Urbana Commission on Human Relations; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Brighton and his wife were active members of the Wesley Methodist Church for more than 57 years, during which Gerald handled the church's accounting and Lois taught Sunday school to generations of children; for these and many other service activities, Wesley Methodist Church honored Gerald and Lois with its Peace and Justice Award in May of 2005; and

WHEREAS, Gerald Brighton is survived by his five children, Anne Robin (Allan) Koslofsky, Bill Brighton (Andrea Wolfman), Joan Brighton, Jack (Rosanne) Brighton, and Jeff (Robin) Brighton; his seven grandchildren; and many international students attending the University of Illinois through the International Student Hospitality Program; therefore, be it

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