HR1635 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1635 LRB095 23113 KXB 53743 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Gene H. Graves of Springfield, who passed away on November 23, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves was born on December 10, 1928 outside of Marion in Crittenden County, Kentucky; his parents were Eugene H. Graves and Mayme Graves; he married Norma J. Jackson on October 6, 1951 in East St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves served in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1949 at the age of 20; afterwards, he joined the Air Force Reserve and was discharged at the rank of Second Lieutenant on August 13, 1954; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University and served as president of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves began his career as a schoolteacher in Elkton, where he taught until 1957; from 1957 to 1959, he was employed with the Ford Motor Company in labor relations; he then took a job with Southern Illinois University in the community affairs department, concurrently serving as president of the Madison/St. Clair County Urban League; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves began his career in State government in 1962, when he was appointed by Illinois Governor Otto Kerner as executive director of the Board of Economic Development; in 1965, the Governor created the cabinet position of director of the Department of Business Development, to which Mr. Graves was named as the first director; under his directorship, which involved many world trade tours and international agreements, he and his wife met with numerous dignitaries and world leaders, resulting in the State of Illinois becoming the number one export state in the nation; under his administration, Illinois also went from the number 12 to the third-ranked state in the nation at attracting new industry; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves was instrumental in the State of Illinois being named by the Atomic Energy Commission as the recipient of the atom smasher built in Weston; from 1969 to 1974, Gene worked as the special assistant to the president at Southern Illinois University; afterwards, he took a job as president of the Flamex Corporation in St. Petersburg, Florida; he returned with his family to Springfield in 1975 and became director of physical services of the Secretary of State's office; he then worked for a short time as a realtor before his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves was well known amongst his peers for his great appreciation for a good joke and a bad pun and his penchant for telling both; he always looked forward to the weekly "meeting of the minds" on Mondays at the Two Brothers Lounge in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William Graves; and

WHEREAS, Gene Graves is survived by his wife, Norma; his sons, James Mitchell Graves (wife, Kim), Bradley Scott Graves (wife, Judy), and Kenneth Byron Graves (wife, Barb); his daughter, Leslie Janine Graves; his brother, Robert (wife, Julie) Graves; his sister, Martina (husband, Loren) Wolfe; and his nine grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Gene H. Graves; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Gene Graves as an expression of our sympathy.