Bill Text: IL SR0322 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Lawrence Alan Gregory, formerly of Naperville.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-06-24 - Resolution Adopted [SR0322 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SR0322-Introduced.html

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SR0322 LRB096 13226 GRL 27885 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Lawrence Alan Gregory, formerly of
Naperville, who passed away on May 6, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory was born in 1928; he was the
youngest of six children born to Harry and Gretchen Gregory; he
lived on the family farm, which is now home to the Fox Valley
Shopping Center; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory graduated from Naperville High
School in 1947; he attended the University of Illinois for one
semester before deciding to transfer to North Central College,
where he continued to have ties for many years; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory met Charmaine Cakora at the local
roller skating rink; the pair married in 1952; in 1954, he
decided to leave farming and open up his own electrical
contracting company, Gregory Electric, Inc.; under the company
motto of "Let Larry light it", Gregory Electric, Inc.
flourished, employing over 100 employees at one point; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory enjoyed farming and all the hard
work and challenges it presented; he also enjoyed electrical
projects, eventually wiring his first home at age 16; he was

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also an active member of 4-H and was once selected to attend
the 4-H National Congress; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory served as a volunteer for
countless community projects and service organizations,
including the Board of Trustees at Edward Hospital, North
Central College, and Grace United Methodist Church; he served
as president of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, a
member of the Naperville Planning Commission, and a member of
the Naperville Zoning Board of Appeals; he served on the
Naperville Riverwalk Commission and coordinated various stages
of the riverwalk's construction; he served as President of the
Rotary Club of Naperville and served on the board of the
Wheatland Plowing Match Association; he also served on the
Naperville YMCA Board of Directors; he especially enjoyed
getting involved in "hands on" projects such as the Riverwalk,
Safety Town, the construction of Grace UMC, and the North
Central College athletic facility; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory was recognized as a
distinguished alumnus from the NHS Class of '47; he was
inducted into the Hall of Fame at North Central College and
received their outstanding alumnus award in 1977; in 2005, he
was selected to receive the Life Achievement Award by the
Jaycees and was honored by being named one of Naperville's 25
Most Influential People; due to his contributions and

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leadership in building the outdoor athletic facility, Mr.
Gregory and his wife were both honored by North Central College
with the dedication of the Gregory Arena in the Merner Field
House; and
WHEREAS, In his spare time, Lawrence Gregory enjoyed the
sport of water skiing; his talent led him to teach hundreds of
his friends and relatives to ski and love the sport as he did;
and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory is survived by his wife,
Charmaine; his children, Michael (Diane) Gregory, Dean (Sindy)
Gregory, Jeffrey Gregory of, and Pamela (Allen) Carius; and his
14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
his family and friends, the passing of Lawrence Alan Gregory;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Lawrence Gregory as an expression of
our sympathy.