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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Harry Stewart of Benton, who passed away
4on September 18, 2011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, He was born November 24, 1929, in Benton, the son
6of Alex and Stella (Pusch) Stewart; he married the former
7Miriam Whaley on July 16, 1954; and
 
8    WHEREAS, He grew up in West City, the son of immigrant
9parents, and was an All-State football player for Benton High
10School; he received more than 80 college football scholarship
11offers and chose to attend the University of South Carolina,
12where he was a three-year starter as offensive and defensive
13tackle; in his senior year of college, he was drafted into the
14Army during the Korean conflict; at the time, he had received
15draft letters from every professional American and Canadian
16football team; however, his military service prohibited him
17from pursuing a career in professional football; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Upon his discharge from the Army, he finished his
19teaching degree at SIU Carbondale; he taught high school and
20coached football at both Herrin High School and Benton
21Consolidated High School; he was inducted into the Illinois
22High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1986;

 

 

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1and
 
2    WHEREAS, He began his political career on the Benton City
3Council, where he served as finance commissioner; he then
4served on the Franklin County Board, representing District 2
5for 16 years, 12 of which he held the position of county board
6chairman; he was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the
7Boneyard Bocce Ball Club, the Benton American Legion, and the
8Benton Elks; and
 
9    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his
10brothers, Steve and Nick Stewart; his sisters, Anna O'Connell
11and Stella Perino; and his niece, Iris Hampleman; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Harry Stewart is survived by his wife of 57 years,
13Miriam Stewart; his children, Lex and Shannon Stewart, Laura
14Stewart, and Kelly Stewart; his grandsons, Alex and Christy
15Stewart, Jon Pulliam, and Landon Stewart; his great-grandsons,
16Daniel Stewart Hobbs and Braxton Stewart; his nephews, Steve
17Stewart and Nick Stewart Jr.; his niece, Jane Stewart-Lau; and
18several great-nieces and great-nephews; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
21his family and friends, the passing of Harry Stewart; and be it
22further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Harry Stewart as a symbol of our
3sincere sympathy.