Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0412
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

Full Text of SR0412  102nd General Assembly

SR0412 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
SR0412LRB102 19012 MST 27740 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of The Reverend Dr. Randall Lee "Randy"
4Saxon of East Peoria, who passed away on June 12, 2021; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon was born in Waverly, New York to
6Sherm and Velma Saxon on October 28, 1947 and raised in Athens,
7New York; he received a Bachelor of Arts in English from
8Mansfield University, a Master of Divinity from Princeton
9Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Drew
10University; twice, he was invited to study at Oxford
11University in England and completed their Summer Religious
12Studies Program; he also earned certifications as a Master
13Gardener and Master Naturalist from the University of
14Illinois-Extension; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon served in the ministry for 40 years;
16he served at churches in Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, and in
17Wilmette; he also served at First Presbyterian Church of
18Peoria and retired as Pastor Emeritus of United Presbyterian
19Church in Peoria; he co-founded the United Presbyterian Church
20in Peoria; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon taught philosophy at Illinois Central
22College and over 40 classes for the Bradley University Osher

 

 

SR0412- 2 -LRB102 19012 MST 27740 r

1Life Long Learning program; he led programs and was a guest
2speaker on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War throughout the
3nation; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon was an active Mason and Rotarian who
5was thrice named a Paul Harris Fellow; he achieved the rank of
6Eagle Scout in his youth and continued to serve the Boy Scouts
7of America as a troop leader, commissioner, and council
8representative; he was a chaplain at the Ingersoll Rand Boy
9Scout Camp; he served as the President of the Illinois State
10Historical Society and as a docent for the Abraham Lincoln
11Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield; he spearheaded
12the drive to erect a statue of Lincoln in Peoria at the
13courthouse site of his famous 1854 speech against the spread
14of slavery; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon received numerous awards and
16recognitions; he was proud to receive an Alumni Citation from
17his alma mater, Mansfield University, for civic and
18philanthropic work and honors from the Shinnecock Indian Tribe
19in New York for his mediation; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon could often be found outside tending
21to his garden or the church garden or just out hiking and
22observing wildlife; he enjoyed spending time volunteering in
23his community in a wide variety of roles; he had a gentle soul

 

 

SR0412- 3 -LRB102 19012 MST 27740 r

1and a sharp, quick wit; he could always be counted on for a
2warm smile, a corny pun, or a random, little-known fact; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon was preceded in death by his parents
4and his stepmother, Betty Saxon; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Randy Saxon is survived by his wife, Anna; his
6children, Heather (John) Blase, David (Dawn) Saxon, Jennifer
7(Josh) Friedman, and Austin (Michelle Greenslate) Saxon; his
8brothers, Jimmy, Kevin, and Shawn Saxon; his sisters, Peg
9Arnold and Nancy Brown; and his grandchildren, Teslyn,
10Rhiannon, Riley, Aaliyah, Saxon, Lizzie, and Jupiter;
11therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
14The Reverend Dr. Randall Lee Saxon of East Peoria and extend
15our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
16knew and loved him; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Randy Saxon as an expression of our
19deepest sympathy.