Bill Text: IL HR0715 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourns the death of Harold Byers of Highland.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2022-04-07 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles Meier [HR0715 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HR0715-Introduced.html

---

HR0715 LRB102 26423 MST 36756 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Harold
Byers of Highland, who passed away on December 9, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was born in Folsomville, Indiana to
Ella Mae and Harold J. Byers on October 6, 1935; he married
Nancy Reinke on December 3, 1955; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers began his career as a teacher and
basketball coach for five years; he spent the remainder of his
career in the textbook business, first as a sales
representative for McGraw-Hill and later as owner of B&B Book
Supply; he devoted his entire life to promoting libraries and
encouraging people to read and learn; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers served as a state representative in
the Illinois General Assembly and was a champion of civil
rights and equal rights for all; his support for the Equal
Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as a downstate
legislator earned him the wrath of Phyllis Schlafly and Anita
Bryant, which he proudly wore as a badge of honor; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was a progressive on civil rights
and social issues, though he was a fiscal conservative who

HR0715 - 2 - LRB102 26423 MST 36756 r
believed in balanced budgets, and was a true watchdog of
taxpayer dollars; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers' first bill as a freshman legislator
changed Illinois history by reforming the manner in which
state legislators were paid; on his first day in office, he
learned that a century old Illinois law required all
legislators to be paid their entire annual salary on the day
they were sworn in; he sponsored a bill, now law, that required
legislators to be paid on a monthly basis only after they
worked each month; his bill and law won the support of 635,138
grateful Illinois voters who signed petitions to help win
passage of the long overdue legislative salary reform; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was a caring legislator who won
passage of many important laws, including consumer
protections, nursing home reform, political ethics reform, and
help for working people who lived from paycheck to paycheck;
and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was fiercely and fearlessly
independent as a legislator; he was awarded the Outstanding
Legislator Award from the Independent Voters of Illinois for
each of the two terms he served in the Illinois House of
Representatives; he believed in opening government to the
public and press; and

HR0715 - 3 - LRB102 26423 MST 36756 r
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was a member of the Madison County
Board for 16 years, where he again served as a watchdog of
taxpayer dollars; during his tenure, he became highly
distressed that Madison County was without a county health
department; he was disturbed that county residents were forced
to travel to adjacent counties, Bond and Clinton, to obtain
vaccinations for their young children; he therefore, as an
advocate for good healthcare for all, was instrumental in the
establishment of the Madison County Health Department; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers served on the Metro East Park and
Recreation District, helping to improve the district's park
system for the betterment of the Metro-East area; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was appointed to the Illinois State
Board of Elections by Governor Pat Quinn, where he served for a
number of years and worked tirelessly to assure Illinois
elections remained free and fair for all; and
WHEREAS, Every year on his birthday, Harold Byers and his
wife Nancy organized a bean dinner at their home, where dozens
of friends came to celebrate and raise funds for the local food
pantry; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was a member of the Evangelical

HR0715 - 4 - LRB102 26423 MST 36756 r
United Church of Christ in Highland; he had a generous spirit
and lived his life to the fullest, enjoying his travels across
America and his worldwide excursions; he enjoyed attending
sporting events and was an avid fan of both horse racing and
the Chicago Cubs; he was thrilled to see his Cubs win the 2016
World Series and proudly attended one of the World Series
games in Chicago to root for his team; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers was preceded in death by his
parents; his sister, Elaine Grundhoefer; his brother, Ronald
Byers; and his daughter-in-law, Deborah Byers; and
WHEREAS, Harold Byers is survived by his loving wife of 66
years, Nancy; his children, Cheryl Byers, Sheila Byers (Rich
Ullman), Keith (Patricia) Byers, Lana (Willard) Herman, Greg
(Jane) Byers, Jeff Byers (Angela Schmidt), and Phil Byers; his
grandchildren, Mandy Eyrich, Kim Fulton, Ashley Dickey,
Margaret Byers, Eric Byers, Katelyn Kuk, Catherine Byers, Tara
Byers, Maxwell Byers, Jennifer Ullman, Elaine Herman, Peter
Byers, and Hannah Clifford; his great-grandchildren, Emmaline
Eyrich, Spencer Eyrich, Emmalyn Dickey, Nora Dickey, Henry
Dean Byers, Briella Byers, Miles Fulton, Grayson Davis, and
Cameron Kuk, with two more on the way; and his brothers, Gary
and Sam Byers; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE

HR0715 - 5 - LRB102 26423 MST 36756 r
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Harold Dean Byers and 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 Harold Byers as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.