093_SR0307

                                     LRB093 14248 HSS 19788 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois learned with regret of the death of John G. Woods of
 4    Arlington Heights on Friday, October 31, 2003; and

 5        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Woods  was  born  on  November 1, 1921, in
 6    Shreveport, Louisiana; he served valiantly in the  U.S.  Navy
 7    during  World  War  II  and  was  aboard  the USS Canberra on
 8    October 13, 1944, when it was torpedoed in the South Pacific;
 9    and

10        WHEREAS, Mr. Woods graduated from  Centenary  College  in
11    Shreveport,  Louisiana,  and studied at Georgetown University
12    School of Law in Washington, D.C.; he married Mary L.  Gariti
13    on  August 9, 1958; he was employed by Universal Oil Products
14    of Des Plaines as a general counsel for 30 years, retiring in
15    1991; and

16        WHEREAS, Mr. Woods served as  the  village  president  of
17    Arlington Heights from 1961 to 1969 and again during 1972 and
18    1973;  during his tenure, the population of Arlington Heights
19    grew from fewer than 30,000 people to 65,000; he  fought  for
20    flood  control  and  improved village planning to prepare for
21    fast growth; and

22        WHEREAS, Mr. Woods was on  the  board  of  directors  for
23    Paddock  Publications;  he was a delegate to the State's 1969
24    constitutional convention, where he developed and fought  for
25    the  home  rule  provision, which gives broad powers to local
26    municipalities; and

27        WHEREAS, Mr.  Woods  was  well-known  for  his  volunteer
28    activities  including  serving  as chairman of the long-range
29    planning  committee  for  Northwest  Community  Hospital,  as
30    founder and first chairman of the Harper College  Educational
31    Fund,  as  director  of the Lattof YMCA, as board trustee for
 
                            -2-      LRB093 14248 HSS 19788 r
 1    the Clearbrook Center for the Handicapped, as trustee of  the
 2    First  United  Methodist  Church,  and as one of the founding
 3    members of the United Way of Arlington Heights;  he  led  the
 4    board  of  the  United  Way  of  Arlington Heights during his
 5    retirement until 1996; and

 6        WHEREAS, The passing of Mr. Woods has been deeply felt by
 7    many,  especially  his  wife,  Mary  L.  (nee  Gariti);   his
 8    children,    Susan   Woods,   Karen   Kelly,   Marie   (Greg)
 9    Woods-Petitti,  and  Katherine  Woods;   his   grandchildren,
10    Denielle  and  Michael Kelly, Geoffrey, Amanda, and Stephanie
11    Lindsell, and Peter, Rachel, and Nicholas  Petitti;  and  his
12    brother,  Alvro (Leo) Dorman; he was preceded in death by his
13    son, Jonathan; therefore, be it

14        RESOLVED, BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
15    ASSEMBLY  OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing
16    of John G. Woods, a man who made outstanding contributions to
17    society and civic life and served his  community  with  loyal
18    dedication; and be it further

19        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
20    presented to the family of Mr. Woods as an expression of  our
21    sincerest condolences.