Bill Text: IL HR0234 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Roger Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-04-11 - Resolution Adopted [HR0234 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR0234-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Roger
Ebert, film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, who passed away
on April 4, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert became the paper's movie reviewer in
1967; his reviews were eventually syndicated to several hundred
newspapers nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert received a Pulitzer Prize in 1975 for
distinguished criticism; in 2005, he became the first critic to
have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert's television career began in 1975,
first in the Chicago area and then nationwide on PBS, when he
and Gene Siskel co-hosted the PBS show "Opening Soon at a
Theater Near You"; it evolved into "Sneak Previews" when the
show went into syndication; the show would go through different
titles as it moved through the years; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert authored more than 15 books covering
the film industry and branched out into screenplays; in 1969 he
was the co-writer of the movie "Beyond the Valley of the
Dolls", a film that has since achieved cult status; and

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WHEREAS, Roger Ebert founded the annual Roger Ebert Film
Festival, known as Ebertfest, originally called Roger Ebert's
Overlooked Film Festival; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert was a renowned author, journalist,
film historian, film critic, and screenwriter who touched the
lives of many; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert was a pioneer of film journalism and
was the greatest of his craft; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert was born in Urbana on June 18, 1942,
to Annabel and Walter H. Ebert; he attended Urbana High School
and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, graduating in
1964; he spent a year at the University of Cape Town in South
Africa before attending the University of Chicago; he married
Charlie "Chaz" Hammelsmith in July 1992; and
WHEREAS, Roger Ebert is survived by his beloved wife, Chaz;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Roger Ebert, and extend our sincere
condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved

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him; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Roger Ebert as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.