Bill Text: IL SR0586 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of James "Jim" Benton.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-30 - Resolution Adopted [SR0586 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR0586-Introduced.html

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SR0586 LRB101 13281 ALS 62123 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of James "Jim" Benton of Lake Bluff, who
passed away on July 11, 2019; and
WHEREAS, Jim Benton was born in Chicago on November 10,
1930; at the age of ten, he moved to Woodstock with his family;
he graduated from Woodstock High School in 1948; he enlisted in
the United States Navy in November of 1950 and was assigned to
the amphibious forces in Little Creek, Virginia; he was
discharged as a Radioman 2nd Class in August 1954; he had a
Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Education plus 45
additional hours; he studied at Northern Illinois University,
the University of Iowa, the University of Oregon, Oregon State
University, and the University of California at Berkeley; and
WHEREAS, Jim Benton taught at Lake Forest High School for
37 years; he contributed to the curriculum by introducing Earth
Science, Zoology, Botany, Biology II, and Advanced Placement
Biology; he served as science chairman for 22 years; he was
director of the Computer Assisted Instruction Center for ten
years and was responsible for ushering LFHS into the MacIntosh
computer applications age; he also directed the Community
Education program and instigated a K-Adult computer education
sequence; and

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WHEREAS, Jim Benton's contributions to Lake Forest High
School extended beyond the classroom; he served as Homecoming
Director for 20 years, Senior Class Advisor from 1991 until
1993, editor and publisher of the association newsletter, The
LFEA Shuttle, for 20 years, book store manager for four years,
advisor of the Pep Club, the Science Club, the Chess Club, and
the Photo Club, co-chair of the dimensions programs, chief
negotiator for the LFEA, faculty president of Cum Laude, and
supplier of countless photographs for school publications as
well as the athletic wall of fame and performing arts/fine arts
walls of fame; he wrote Chalkdust in the Trenches, a novel
about a typical suburban high school; he maintained contact
with over 100 LFHS faculty and staff alumni through a periodic
newsletter called Take-a-Break; he built a fully-detailed and
lighted model of the newly-remodeled LFHS, which is on
permanent display in the library; he redecorated the Public
room into a nostalgia/historical center and received the "Most
Groovy Teacher" award in 1963; and
WHEREAS, Jim Benton studied the trumpet and sang an
operatic aria for the 1994 Talent Show; he and his wife, Betty,
entertained at retirement and nursing homes for ten years; he
wrote over 100 poems, sang in the Men's Glee Club, spoke
conversational Italian, and maintained an interest in the
Italian Renaissance and 19th Century American poets; and

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WHEREAS, Jim Benton was preceded in death by his brother,
Thomas (Gayle) Benton and his sister, Cynthia (Ron) Rasmussen;
and
WHEREAS, Jim Benton is survived by his wife, Betty; his
son, Bradley Cristopher Benton; his daughter, Lauren Marie
Benton Schmanski; his grandsons, Christopher Colton Schmanski
and Matthew John Schmanski; his brothers, Richard (Louise
Ganong) Zbinden and John (Jenice) Benton; his sisters, Margery
Aagaard and Suzanne (Duane) Kiddoo; and many nieces and
nephews; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
James "Jim" Benton 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 Jim Benton as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.