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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Ralph Carman Hughes of East Moline, who 
4passed away on December 18, 2016; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Ralph Hughes was born in Hagerstown, Indiana  on 
6October 19, 1927; in 1928, his family moved to Anderson, 
7Indiana, where he  graduated from high school; he received an 
8honorable discharge from the United States Navy at the end of 
9World War II and  enrolled in the School of Agriculture at 
10Purdue University; he married Charlotte Ann Bronnenberg in 
111948; and
 
12    WHEREAS, While at Purdue University, Ralph Hughes was a 
13member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and the Alpha Zeta and the 
14Ceres scholastic honorary fraternities; he  received his  
15Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from Purdue in 
161951 and was hired by the University Agricultural Experiment 
17Station to edit publications written by the college professors; 
18and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, In 1954, Deere & Company hired Ralph Hughes as an 
20assistant editor for the company farm magazine, The Furrow; in 
211960, he became an agricultural advertising copywriter, 
22creating sales literature, magazine ads, and motion picture 
 
 
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1scripts for a variety of John Deere farm equipment; in 1963, he 
2was entrusted with the challenge to introduce and promote the 
3new line of John Deere lawn and garden tractors and equipment; 
4in 1984, he  was named the Worldwide Director of the Deere & 
5Company advertising department; under his leadership, the 
6advertising department coined the slogan "Nothing Runs Like A 
7Deere"; in 1992, he retired from Deere & Company; during his 
8career and after retirement, he authored three books and wrote 
9numerous magazine articles; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Ralph Hughes was active in his community; he 
11served as a Republican Precinct Committeeman for 10 years and 
12was on the East Moline Park Board for 21 years; and
 
13    WHEREAS, For over 30 years, Ralph Hughes researched his 
14family's genealogy; he enjoyed playing bridge with his wife and 
15friends, attending basketball games, taking bus tours, and 
16spending time with his family; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Ralph Hughes was preceded in death by his parents; 
18his brothers, George and Frank Hughes; and his  son, R. Charles 
19"Chuck" Hughes; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Ralph Hughes is survived by his wife, Charlotte; 
21his daughters, Jane (Rick) Leggett Lampkin, and Cynthia (Larry) 
22Ziegler; his son, William Hughes; his daughter-in-law, Katie 
 
 
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1Hughes; his grandchildren, Craig (Cara) Ziegler, Madeline 
2Hughes, and Ross Hughes; and two great-grandchildren; 
3therefore, be it
  
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
6Ralph Carman Hughes, and extend our sincere condolences to his 
7family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
8further
  
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
10presented to  the family of  Ralph Hughes as an expression of our 
11deepest sympathy.