SR0598 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0598 LRB097 20392 KXB 65867 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Phillip Norman Benne of Hanna City, who passed away on February 7, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was born April 6, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Harold Charles and Florence Louise (Kilgore) Benne; he married Eileen Deborah Huntley in Cahokia on June 8, 1974; and

WHEREAS, He came from a law enforcement family; he received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Western Illinois University and was a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command; he started out working as a police patrol officer for the city of Peoria, later became a field training officer, served in the Criminal Investigations Bureau, was a K-9 officer with his (4-legged) partner Jock, Special Response Team member, and retired in 2008 as lieutenant of the Technical Services Division after 30 years of service; and

WHEREAS, He received the Life Saving Award, the Distinguished Service Award, the American Legion Meritorious Service Award, and the Policeman of the Year Award; he was a member of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) Organization and recently was awarded certification as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP); he received numerous letters of appreciation from the citizens of the Peoria area; and

WHEREAS, After retiring, he was hired by Securitas as a facilities securities manager for the Downtown Caterpillar Campus; he was later promoted to membership in Caterpillar Global Security as senior security professional and was then elevated by Securitas as the director of U.S. Operations for the Caterpillar account; and

WHEREAS, He was an assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 155 at Concordia Lutheran School; he was a member and chairman of the congregation at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Peoria, and he loved the Lord with all his heart; and

WHEREAS, Phillip Benne is survived by his wife, Eileen; his parents; his children, Jennifer, Jessica, Jacqueline, and Jason Benne; his brothers and sisters, Zachary (Elinor) Benne, Linda Bommarito, Tina (Kelly) Folts, Leasa (Robert) Ferry, Shelly Stratman, and Harold Benne Jr.; his mother-in-law, Adeline Wilson; his sisters-in-law, Jeanne (and Tim) Donald and Dawn Huntley; his brother-in-law, Michael Wilson; and his numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Phillip Benne; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Phillip Benne as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.