Full Text of SR0435 101st General Assembly
SR0435 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | 3 | | learn of the death of Charles D. "Chuck" Sweeny of Rockford, | 4 | | who passed away on May 20, 2019; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was born in Rockford to Fay C. and | 6 | | Winifred M. Daniels Sweeny on October 26, 1948; he graduated | 7 | | from Auburn High School in 1966; he received a bachelor's | 8 | | degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago; he married | 9 | | Cherene Gourley in Rockford on March 3, 1973; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny began his career in journalism at the | 11 | | Rockford Register Star in 1984; he specialized in politics and | 12 | | also served as a reporter, columnist, political editor, and, | 13 | | most recently, senior editor; he was the face of the Register | 14 | | Star and gave the newspaper a personality it needed; his | 15 | | columns were must-reads, as he blended information with wit and | 16 | | wisdom; his remarkable memory and encyclopedic knowledge of all | 17 | | things local made him a valuable resource to all journalists; | 18 | | and
| 19 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny's community advocacy meant that he | 20 | | kept harping on issues until they were resolved; his love for | 21 | | Rockford made him critical of the politicians, developers, and | 22 | | special interest groups who impeded the city's progress; and
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was voted best columnist in the | 2 | | Register Star's annual What Rocks reader poll; he was a | 3 | | sought-after speaker by many clubs and organizations and was a | 4 | | frequent debate moderator; he was one of the questioners during | 5 | | the gubernatorial candidates debate between Rod Blagojevich | 6 | | and Jim Ryan; he appeared as a commentator on local television, | 7 | | was a guest on National Public Radio, and was a regular user of | 8 | | Facebook; and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was also a musician; he played | 10 | | electric piano in several bands that performed around the | 11 | | region; he will be remembered as a lifetime journalist, | 12 | | political advocate, and Rockford historian and commentator; | 13 | | and
| 14 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny was preceded in death by his parents; | 15 | | and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, Chuck Sweeny is survived by his wife, Cherene; his | 17 | | son, James M.D. Sweeny; his daughter, Stephanie M.M. Sweeny; | 18 | | his sister, Mary (Robert) Douglas; his brothers-in-law, | 19 | | Michael Gourley and Patrick (Cheryl) Gourley; his niece and | 20 | | nephews, William C. Douglas, Emily A. Douglas, Todd Gourley, | 21 | | and Lisa Sanders; and his many other extended family members; | 22 | | therefore, be it
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL | 2 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 3 | | Charles D. "Chuck" Sweeny and extend our sincere condolences to | 4 | | his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it | 5 | | further
| 6 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 7 | | presented to the family of Chuck Sweeny as an expression of our | 8 | | deepest sympathy.
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