SR1361LRB102 29994 ECR 42181 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Dennis Ray Whetstone of Carmi, who
4passed away on November 24, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dennis Whetstone was born to Carl Ray Whetstone
6and Frances (Whitsitt) Whetstone in Carmi on December 27,
71953; he graduated from the Southern Illinois University at
8Carbondale; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dennis Whetstone's career mostly centered around
10the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
11(DCCA) in both streamlining and managing its programs at
12federal, state, and local levels; he oversaw federally funded
13programs created to develop and retain workforce opportunities
14in Illinois, including business financing, local government
15assistance, and job training; in the early 1980s, he played an
16integral part of the state delegation that traveled to Japan
17and negotiated with the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation to build
18the Diamond Star Motors auto plant in Normal; he was also
19instrumental in convincing Motorola, Caterpillar, and other
20companies to remain in Illinois under DCCA's job retention
21efforts; he was appointed as executive deputy director in the
22late 1980s, where he dedicated himself to improving economic
23development efforts throughout the State; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dennis Whetstone left DCCA to serve under
2then-Governor Jim Edgar in 1994, where he developed and
3implemented workforce preparation and job training programs;
4he returned to DCCA as director the following year before
5becoming president and CEO of The Illinois State Chamber of
6Commerce; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dennis Whetstone served on many task forces,
8boards, and commissions during his tenure in state government;
9he also co-taught one semester at Harvard University; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dennis Whetstone was an avid golfer who possessed
11exceptional taste in wardrobe, movies, films, and music, and
12he was able to recall minute details of them all as well as
13people he had met; he was also a genius at trivia and crossword
14puzzles; he will be remembered for his genuinely kind and
15gentle nature; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Dennis Whetstone was preceded in death by his
17father; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dennis Whetstone is survived by his mother; and
19his son, Cooper Whetstone; his daughter, Callie Whetstone; his
20brothers, Dale Whetstone and Kerry "K.C." (Christine)
21Whetstone; and his nieces and nephews, Blair Whetstone, Emily

 

 

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1Whetstone, Colt Whetstone, Spencer (Matthew) Taylor, and
2Stetson (Katy) Whetstone; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Dennis Ray Whetstone and extend our sincere condolences to his
6family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Dennis Whetstone as an expression
10of our deepest sympathy.