SR1013 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1013 LRB097 23490 MST 72435 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Richard Henry "Dick" Burwash of Savoy, who passed away on November 10, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Richard Burwash was born in Savoy on March 26, 1918, to Arthur E. and Mabel Burwash (Womacks); he married Catherine Watson on January 12, 1944; and

WHEREAS, Richard Burwash grew up in Monticello until his family relocated to Long Beach, California; his family returned to Champaign County in 1927; he graduated from Champaign High School in 1935, and he attended the University of Illinois, where he joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and was a member of ROTC; and

WHEREAS, Richard Burwash served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II; he completed boot camp on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor; he served at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, at a base near Savannah, Georgia, and then was transferred to the 439th Troop Carrier Group, where he relocated to England to assist with the Normandy invasion on D-Day; and

WHEREAS, Following the war, Richard Burwash operated the family farm; he was active in the Champaign County Farm Bureau and served on its legislative committee in the early 1970's; the News-Gazette selected him as Farm Leader of the year; he served on the Carle Foundation Board of Trustees from 1967 to 1972 and was president of the board from 1970-71; he sat on the board of directors of the Champaign National Bank (now Busey Bank) and served as the board's chairman in the 1980's; and

WHEREAS, Richard Burwash was a 57-year member of the Rotary Club of Champaign and for 56 of those years grew sweet corn for the annual corn roast; he was a 32-degree Mason, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge in Savoy, and a lifetime member of American Legion Post 1492 in Savoy; he was a lifelong member of the Savoy United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, Richard Burwash was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine; his parents, Arthur E. and Mabel Burwash; his stepmother, Florence Burwash (Evans); his daughter, Barbara Anne; and his stepbrothers, George Evans and Edward Evans; and

WHEREAS, Richard Burwash is survived by his daughters, Laurin Elizabeth Vinson and Carol J. Burwash; his grandsons, Andrew L. (Paula) Vinson and Thaddeus Nathan Vinson; his stepsister, Phyllis Moore (Evans); and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard Burwash, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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