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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of James B.
4Wham, who passed away on May 20, 2011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, James Wham was born on October 10, 1918, to
6Charles and Pauline (Bundy) Wham; he married Phyllis Wright in
71942; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In 1942, after one year of law school, James Wham
9was drafted as a private in the United States Army Air Corps;
10he served in various leadership positions in the 62nd Troop
11Carrier Group in England, North Africa, Sicily, and Italy; he
12earned a commendation for "the exemplary manner in which he
13performed his duties in the 62nd Group" and was awarded the
14Bronze Star; he was honorably discharged from active duty at
15the rank of major on December 30, 1945; and
 
16    WHEREAS, James Wham received his Juris Doctor degree in
17December of 1946 from the University of Illinois College of
18Law; he subsequently joined his family's law practice in
19Centralia; he was well known throughout the State of Illinois
20for his impeccable integrity and incredible talent; and
 
21    WHEREAS, James Wham served as a Judge of the Illinois Court

 

 

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1of Claims for eight years; he also served as an Assistant
2Attorney General of the State of Illinois for eight years; and
 
3    WHEREAS, James Wham was the recipient of many honors,
4including the 1998 General Practice Section Tradition of
5Excellence Award; he was inducted into the 2004 Class of
6Laureates of the Illinois State Bar Association, which was
7founded to recognize Illinois lawyers who personify the
8greatness of the legal profession; he was also a Fellow of the
9American College of Trial Lawyers; and
 
10    WHEREAS, James Wham was a prolific writer and eloquent
11speaker on the subjects of the American flag and freedom; his
12rousing patriotic speeches made him a much sought-after speaker
13for many occasions; he never turned down an opportunity to
14promote American principles, the American flag, and veterans
15issues; in 1990, he ran for Congress on the Jim Wham for
16Congress and the Flag ticket to dramatize the need for a
17constitutional amendment to protect the flag from desecration;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, James Wham volunteered thousands of hours to
20matters that affected his hometown of Centralia; he remained
21actively involved in his church and community until his
22passing; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
4James B. Wham; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of James Wham as an expression of our
7sympathy.