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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 Donald
4Sandidge of Alton, who passed away on February 17, 2013; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Donald Sandidge was born on April 7, 1937, in
6Peoria to Thomas E. and Mary Ellen (Canaday) Sandidge; he
7graduated from Alton High School in 1956, playing quarterback
8in the 1955 and 1956 seasons and being his team's captain in
91956; he lettered in both football and baseball; he served in
10the U.S. Marine Corps from 1958-1961 and earned the rank of
11sergeant; he married Sheri Whipple; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Following his military service, Donald Sandidge
13joined the Alton Police Department as a patrolman; he moved up
14the ranks to detective, chief of detectives, captain, and in
151986 became chief of police and was named Commander of the
16Greater St. Louis Major Case Squad, becoming the only Illinois
17officer to command the squad; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Donald Sandidge was a member of the Alton American
19Legion and a life member of VFW Post 1308; he served as
20treasurer of the Vietnam Memorial Committee, as a board member
21of the American Cancer Society and as a board member of the
22Salvation Army; he was a life member of the Southern Illinois

 

 

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1Police Chief's Association and a member of the Illinois
2Association of Chiefs of Police and the International
3Association of Chiefs of Police; he served as past president of
4the Alton Area boys Tackle Football Inc. and was a member of
5the K.C. Quarterback Club; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Donald Sandidge continued his education
7throughout his life, earning a bachelor's degree in law
8enforcement and public administration from the University of
9Illinois-Springfield; he later graduated from the FBI National
10Academy at Quantico, Virginia; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Donald Sandidge didn't slow down upon his
12retirement from law enforcement in 1989; he worked as a
13probation officer for Madison County and was elected mayor of
14Alton serving from 1997-2009; as mayor, he fixed Alton's
15infrastructure, repaved hundreds of miles of roads, demolished
16derelict houses, worked to attract good doctors, and to attract
17new businesses and developers to the community; he was inducted
18into Alton High School's Wall of Fame due to his over 50 years
19of public service; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Donald Sandidge was preceded in death by his
21parents; his brother, Thomas E. Sandidge Jr.; and his
22father-in-law, Dennis Whipple; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Donald Sandidge is survived by his wife of 51
2years, Sheri; his children, Dene Sandidge and Don E. (Leah)
3Sandidge II; his grandchildren, Chris Sullivan and Chandra and
4Donetta Sandidge; his mother-in-law, Golda Whipple; his aunt,
5Joann Ripper; his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Denny
6Dailey, Joy Whipple, Genell Mills, and Melody (John) Tigo; and
7his nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
10we mourn the passing of Donald Sandidge, and we extend our
11sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
12and loved him; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family Donald Sandidge as an expression of our
15deepest sympathy.