Bill Text: IL SR0484 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of William Hardy McAdams Jr. of Moline.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-26 - Resolution Adopted [SR0484 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0484-Introduced.html

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SR0484 LRB103 34319 LAW 64148 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of William Hardy McAdams Jr. of Moline,
who passed away on September 5, 2023; and
WHEREAS, William McAdams was born to William Hardy Sr. and
Helen M. (Davis) McAdams in Moline on October 7, 1928; he
committed to his faith at an early age and was baptized at
Tabernacle Baptist Church; he attended Garfield Elementary
School and John Deere Junior High School; he received the
American Legion Award in 1943; he graduated from Moline High
School in 1947, where he was president student mayor and a
member of the Civic and Letterman's Club and participated in
football, track, and basketball; he attended the University of
Iowa, where he was polemarch, or president, of Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Inc., Gamma Chapter; he left school to serve in
the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in France and Germany; he
later returned to and graduated from the University of Iowa;
he married Charlotte Ann Nabors in 1952; and
WHEREAS, After his military service, William McAdams
worked at John Deere and the U.S. Post Office and held various
jobs until he became a foreman at International Harvester (IH)
in East Moline, where he retired after 25 years; he then worked
as a correctional officer at Seventh District Department of

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Corrections in Davenport, Iowa for 10 years; and
WHEREAS, William McAdams was a member of the Rock Island
County Historical Society and the Rock Island Martin Luther
King Center's Active Club; in 2023, his story was published in
a book of memoirs collected by Judge John O'Shea titled
Memories of The Great Depression: A Time Remembered; he also
compiled the books called Death Index: African Americans and
Others in the Rock Island, Illinois area, also known as The Red
Books; and
WHEREAS, William McAdams enjoyed playing the piano,
listening to classical music, and gathering with his friends
at the Dead Poet's Espresso coffee house in Moline; he also
enjoyed going to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa in late
April; in mid-May, he took his wife and daughters to the IHSA
Girls Track & Field State Finals at Eastern Illinois
University, where Charlotte would officiate the track and
field events and his daughters would participate; he loved
spending time with his children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren and making his famous pancakes for the
family; and
WHEREAS, William McAdams, affectionately known as "Mac",
was an avid reader, a historian, an Iowa Hawkeyes fan, and a
photographer; he will be remembered as a loyal husband and a

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great father and grandfather; and
WHEREAS, William McAdams was preceded in death by his wife
of 64 years, Charlotte; his parents; his grandchildren, Erica
Lynn McAdams and Mykael Jamal Harrison; his son-in-law,
Kearney Walker; his brother-in-law, Joe Allen; and his
sister-in-law, Rev. Juanita McAdams; and
WHEREAS, William McAdams is survived by his children,
Rochelle (Mark) Thornton, Valerie (Rev. Dr. David) Jarrett,
Charlotte (Donald) Harrison, Frances (Royal) Foreman,
Katherine McAdams, Stacey McAdams, Kenny (Michelle) McAdams,
Adrienne Walker, Lesley McAdams, and Kelley (Aubrey) Clay; his
siblings, Rev. David McAdams and Helen Allen; his cousins,
Gilbert Davis and Elaine Chisholm; his brother-in-law, Robert
Davis; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a host
of nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
William Hardy McAdams Jr. 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 William McAdams as an expression of

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