Full Text of HR0414 101st General Assembly
HR0414 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
| | HR0414 | | LRB101 12616 ALS 61064 r |
|
| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Charles | 4 | | D. "Chuck" Sweeny of Rockford, who passed away on May 20, 2019; | 5 | | and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was born in Rockford to Fay C. and | 7 | | Winifred M. Daniels Sweeny on October 26, 1948; he graduated | 8 | | from Auburn High School in 1966; he received a bachelor's | 9 | | degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago; he married | 10 | | Cherene Gourley in Rockford on March 3, 1973; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny began his career in journalism at the | 12 | | Rockford Register Star in 1984; he specialized in politics and | 13 | | also served as a reporter, columnist, political editor, and, | 14 | | most recently, senior editor; he was the face of the Register | 15 | | Star and gave the newspaper a personality it needed; his | 16 | | columns were must-reads, as his reporting and commentary were | 17 | | insightful, fair, and incredibly well sourced; he had the | 18 | | ability to inject humor into the often-tense public discourse; | 19 | | and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was known as "the dean of local | 21 | | political journalists" by Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara; he | 22 | | interviewed mayors, governors, and presidents and was an |
| | | HR0414 | - 2 - | LRB101 12616 ALS 61064 r |
|
| 1 | | exceptional chronicler of Rockford's history; for decades, he | 2 | | helped the public understand government, local history, and | 3 | | civic issues and emphasized the importance of the role of a | 4 | | free press in a thriving democracy; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was voted best columnist in the | 6 | | Register Star's annual What Rocks reader poll; he was a | 7 | | sought-after speaker and a frequent debate moderator; he | 8 | | appeared as a commentator on local television, was a guest on | 9 | | National Public Radio, and was a regular user of Facebook; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was also a musician; he played | 11 | | electric piano in several bands that performed around the | 12 | | region; he will be remembered as a lifetime journalist, | 13 | | political advocate, and Rockford historian and commentator; | 14 | | and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was preceded in death by his parents; | 16 | | and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny is survived by his wife, Cherene; his | 18 | | son, James M.D. Sweeny; his daughter, Stephanie M.M. Sweeny; | 19 | | his sister, Mary (Robert) Douglas; his brothers-in-law, | 20 | | Michael Gourley and Patrick (Cheryl) Gourley; his nieces and | 21 | | nephews, William C. Douglas, Emily A. Douglas, Todd Gourley, | 22 | | and Lisa Sanders; and his many other extended family members; |
| | | HR0414 | - 3 - | LRB101 12616 ALS 61064 r |
|
| 1 | | therefore, be it
| 2 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 3 | | HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 4 | | we mourn the passing of Charles D. "Chuck" Sweeny and extend | 5 | | our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who | 6 | | knew and loved him; and be it further
| 7 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 8 | | presented to the family of Chuck Sweeny as an expression of our | 9 | | deepest sympathy.
|
|