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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Joseph J. "Joe" Bannon Ph.D. of
4Champaign, who passed away on March 30, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was born in Glens Falls, New York to
6Leo and Elizabeth Bannon on May 30, 1931; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon graduated cum laude from Ithaca
8College in 1957; in 1958, he was awarded an assistantship at
9the University of Illinois in the Park and Recreation
10Department to pursue his Master of Science; upon graduation,
11he became Superintendent of Recreation in Leonia, New Jersey;
12in 1963, he became the General Superintendent of the Topeka,
13Kansas Recreation Commission, where he served until 1966; in
141966, he returned to the University of Illinois to become the
15chief of the Office of Recreation and Park Resources; he
16completed his Ph.D. in 1971 and became head of the Department
17of Leisure Studies in 1973; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon authored or co-authored nine books,
19contributed a number of chapters to edited books, and wrote
20over 50 journal and magazine articles; he was a co-founding
21editor of the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration;
22he was a founding member of The Academy of Leisure Sciences and

 

 

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1the American Academy of Park and Recreation Association; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon consulted extensively throughout the
3U.S., Japan, China, Korea, South Africa, Germany, Netherlands,
4Italy, and Peru; in 1988, he spent an extended period of time
5in China consulting with universities as well as city
6officials in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suchow about fitness and
7recreation programs; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon developed the newsletter Management
9Strategy in 1977, which was dedicated to disseminating
10management information to parks and recreation professionals
11throughout the world; this led to the formation of the
12Sagamore Publishing Company, which he built and worked at full
13time alongside his son, Peter Bannon, acquiring and developing
14titles after retiring from the University of Illinois; he
15continued to maintain his close ties to the recreation field
16he loved throughout his life, advising and mentoring countless
17young professionals in the field; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was presented numerous awards in his
19lifetime for his decades-long service to the park and
20recreation profession; in 2001, he was honored with the
21Pugsley Award, the most distinguished award for park and
22recreation conservation given in the profession; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was a loving and devoted father,
2grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, boss, mentor, and friend;
3he was a wonderful role model for his family and was fiercely
4loyal to those he loved; he enjoyed spending time with family
5and friends, running, golf, and spending his summers with his
6family at his mountain retreat in upstate New York; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon was preceded in death by his wife,
8Ann, and his grandson, Keegan; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Bannon is survived by his sons, Joseph Jr.
10and Peter, and their spouses, Jill and Amy; his grandchildren,
11Kelsey, Keegan, Erin, Sophie, Regan, Doug, Leo, and Rory; and
12his great-granddaughter, Keegan Rose; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15Joseph J. "Joe" Bannon Ph.D. and extend our sincere
16condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
17him; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Dr. Bannon as an expression of our
20deepest sympathy.