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

SR0322 - 2 - LRB096 13226 GRL 27885 r
1		also an active member of 4-H and was once selected to attend
2		the 4-H National Congress; and
3		WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory served as a volunteer for
4		countless community projects and service organizations,
5		including the Board of Trustees at Edward Hospital, North
6		Central College, and Grace United Methodist Church; he served
7		as president of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, a
8		member of the Naperville Planning Commission, and a member of
9		the Naperville Zoning Board of Appeals; he served on the
10		Naperville Riverwalk Commission and coordinated various stages
11		of the riverwalk's construction; he served as President of the
12		Rotary Club of Naperville and served on the board of the
13		Wheatland Plowing Match Association; he also served on the
14		Naperville YMCA Board of Directors; he especially enjoyed
15		getting involved in "hands on" projects such as the Riverwalk,
16		Safety Town, the construction of Grace UMC, and the North
17		Central College athletic facility; and
18		WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory was recognized as a
19		distinguished alumnus from the NHS Class of '47; he was
20		inducted into the Hall of Fame at North Central College and
21		received their outstanding alumnus award in 1977; in 2005, he
22		was selected to receive the Life Achievement Award by the
23		Jaycees and was honored by being named one of Naperville's 25
24		Most Influential People; due to his contributions and

SR0322 - 3 - LRB096 13226 GRL 27885 r
1		leadership in building the outdoor athletic facility, Mr.
2		Gregory and his wife were both honored by North Central College
3		with the dedication of the Gregory Arena in the Merner Field
4		House; and
5		WHEREAS, In his spare time, Lawrence Gregory enjoyed the
6		sport of water skiing; his talent led him to teach hundreds of
7		his friends and relatives to ski and love the sport as he did;
8		and
9		WHEREAS, Lawrence Gregory is survived by his wife,
10		Charmaine; his children, Michael (Diane) Gregory, Dean (Sindy)
11		Gregory, Jeffrey Gregory of, and Pamela (Allen) Carius; and his
12		14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
13		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
14		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
15		his family and friends, the passing of Lawrence Alan Gregory;
16		and be it further
17		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18		presented to the family of Lawrence Gregory as an expression of
19		our sympathy.