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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Dennis "Denny" Powell of Heyworth, who
4passed away on October 29, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Denny Powell was born to Eleanore (Barnes) and
6Donald Powell in Bloomington on September 7, 1942; he graduated
7from Heyworth High School and served in the Illinois National
8Guard for 14 years; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Denny Powell farmed his great-grandparents land
10for most of his life, from the late 1950s to the present; he
11was a fireman for 56 years with the Randolph Township Fire
12Department; widely recognized as a leader and innovator, he
13served 39 of those years as fire chief with a focus on
14education, training, and development, which continues to this
15day; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Denny Powell served as the Randolph Township Road
17Commissioner and as Sexton, Supervisor, and Restoration
18Developer for the Randolph Township cemeteries; he served on
19numerous committees, boards, and councils within the township,
20McLean County, and Illinois; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Denny Powell was a loyal community servant for the

 

 

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1majority of his life; in 2013, he was honored as the McLean
2County Mayors Association Person of the Year for his years of
3service and for being a key contributor in implementing E911
4first responder capabilities in rural areas; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Denny Powell enjoyed all aspects of farming and
6collected farm tractors and John Deere memorabilia; his farm
7was the gathering spot for the holidays, harvest time, and the
8Fourth of July; he respected the American flag and worked to
9ensure veterans were recognized for their service; he was loyal
10and generous and had an extraordinarily close family who knew
11him as "Chief"; he never missed an episode of Gunsmoke or
12Bonanza, and he saw every John Wayne film, multiple times; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Denny Powell was preceded in death by his parents;
14his brother, Terry (Nelda) Powell; and his step-sister, Lois
15(Marvin) Detloff; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Denny Powell is survived by his stepsister,
17Loretta (Wayne) Meece; five nephews; one niece; ten
18grandnephews; five grandnieces; three great-grandnieces; and
19two great-grandnephews; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22Dennis "Denny" Powell and extend our sincere condolences to his

 

 

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1family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Denny Powell as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.