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92_SR0363
LRB9216468RHrh
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
3 express their sincere condolences to the family and friends
4 of Joseph E. McNaughton, who passed away on March 5, 2002;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Joseph E. McNaughton, former publisher of the
7 Effingham Daily News and former owner of WCRA/WCRC in
8 Effingham, was a man who dedicated his life to strengthening
9 his community, loving his family and being an astute
10 businessman; and
11 WHEREAS, Born in Bicknell, Indiana, in 1919, Joseph E.
12 McNaughton was the son of Foy F. and Cecille McNaughton; he
13 married Peggy Ann Fife in 1947 and moved to Effingham; she
14 preceded him in death on April 30, 2001; and
15 WHEREAS, Joseph McNaughton's father was a newspaperman
16 who wanted to purchase the Effingham newspaper, but when the
17 family couldn't work out a deal at that time, Joseph
18 McNaughton started up radio station WCRA, which went on the
19 air in June 1947 and, in June 1948, he became president and
20 general manager of the station; in 1949, the Effingham Daily
21 News was purchased by the McNaughton family and Joseph
22 McNaughton became president and general manager; the radio
23 station later expanded to include an FM station, and for 50
24 years Mr. McNaughton was president of the Effingham
25 Broadcasting Co; in addition, he served as publisher of the
26 Effingham Daily News for 43 years; and
27 WHEREAS, From his start in Effingham, Joseph McNaughton
28 began to branch out; in 1952, he became president and general
29 manager of the Elgin Broadcasting Co. and from there, Mr.
30 McNaughton bought daily newspapers and radio stations in
31 Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and California; and
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1 WHEREAS, In his early radio and newspaper days, Joseph
2 McNaughton played a pivotal role when Effingham's St. Anthony
3 Hospital burned on April 4, 1949, killing 77 people,
4 including 12 infants; he set up his radio station on a table
5 outside the hospital, broadcasting throughout the night, a
6 first in Effingham history since AM stations were not allowed
7 to broadcast after dark; not only did his radio station
8 become a connection for families and community members that
9 night, Mr. McNaughton also played a very personal role in the
10 relief effort since he was the Effingham County Red Cross
11 disaster chairman; and
12 WHEREAS, After the fire, Joseph McNaughton was
13 instrumental in raising funds to build a new hospital, which
14 proudly stands today as a memorial to those who lost their
15 lives; in addition, he headed eight fund drives, including a
16 drive in 1974 to raise $1 million for the hospital; and
17 WHEREAS, Mr. McNaughton was always aware that giving back
18 to one's community was the greatest feat a man could
19 accomplish, and throughout his life, he concentrated on
20 making contributions that would strengthen the area's
21 foundation, included leading the effort in 1953 to build Lake
22 Sara to ensure Effingham had a sufficient water supply in the
23 future; and
24 WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. McNaughton quietly built his
25 radio stations and newspaper to become the voice of the area
26 people; he served at one time as the president of the
27 Illinois Daily Newspaper Markets; at the same time, he
28 continued to contribute to community efforts, often behind
29 the scenes, where he was active in the local Chamber of
30 Commerce, was chairman of the United Fund Drive and served as
31 chairman of the Effingham County Mental Health Board; and
32 WHEREAS, Joseph McNaughton had a full life outside of
-3- LRB9216468RHrh
1 business and community ties; he enjoyed history, traveling
2 and hunting; he attended the 1936 Berlin Olympics when he was
3 17 years old and sat very close to Adolph Hitler, which made
4 a huge impression on him; from that day on, he loved history
5 and became a voracious reader; he also visited every Civil
6 War battle field; and
7 WHEREAS, The passing of Joseph E. McNaughton will be
8 deeply felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his
9 daughters, Mary Cecille McNaughton Feezel (husband, Mark
10 Feezel) and Jo Ann McNaughton-Kade (husband, Christopher
11 Kade); his brother, Dean McNaughton; his sister, Lou Edith
12 (husband, Donald) Soldwedel; his grandchildren, Sara
13 Ingersoll, Adam Helmer, Patrick Mansfield, Stephen Mansfield
14 McNaughton, Zachary Kade, Kevin Kade, Katie Kade, Chris Kade,
15 Amanda Kade, Rachel Kade, Molly Kade, Danielle Kade, Suzie
16 Kade, Joseph Kade, Ellen Kade, William Feezel, and Thomas
17 Feezel; and his great-grandsons, Ross Mansfield, and Ethan
18 Mansfield; therefore, be it
19 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
20 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
21 all who knew him, the death of Joseph E. McNaughton of
22 Effingham, Illinois; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
24 presented to the family of Joseph E. McNaughton with our
25 sincere condolences.