Bill Text: IL SR0689 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of John P. Meyer of Danville.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-11-07 - Resolution Adopted [SR0689 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-SR0689-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of John P. Meyer of Danville, who passed
away on October 31, 2013; and
WHEREAS, John Meyer was born on August 17, 1920; his
parents were Frank P. and Frances Clare (nee Brady) Meyer; he
married Barbara (nee Martin) Cullen in 1942; he married Mertyce
(nee Erickson) Fagot in 1969; and
WHEREAS, John Meyer attended Washington Grade School and
St. Patrick's Grade School before graduating from Danville High
School in 1937; he subsequently attended the University of
Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor of science in commerce
and a doctor of laws degree from the Notre Dame Law School; and
WHEREAS, John Meyer served with the 14th Armored Division
(The Liberators) as an Artillery Forward Observer during World
War II; he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action;
he was discharged in 1946 at the rank of captain; following his
discharge, he served as adjutant general of the 14th Armored
Division; and
WHEREAS, After being admitted to the Illinois Bar, John
Meyer practiced law in the Vermilion, Sangamon, and Cook County

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areas for more than 55 years until his retirement in 2003;
after practicing in the firm of Burke, Twomey, and Johnson, he
started a partnership with Henry Wise and Thomas Graham; the
firm later added Charles Young, Daniel Welsh, and Paul Maton to
become Graham, Wise, Meyer, Young, Welsh, and Maton; he was
later admitted to practice before the United States Supreme
Court and won an important antitrust case before the Court;
after retiring, he officed with his son, Chris, in the law firm
named Dukes, Ryan, Meyer and Freed, Ltd.; he also served as
first assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, John Meyer was elected to and served in the
Illinois House of Representatives and Illinois Senate; while in
the House and Senate, he introduced and passed legislation
creating a public defender's office for downstate Illinois and
was an architect of the Fair Employment Practices Act; he
served as chairman of the Legislative Commission on Narcotic
Drugs and introduced and passed legislation creating State
funding of Illinois Community Colleges, including Danville
Area Community College; he also served as a judge of the
circuit court for the Fifth Judicial Circuit; and
WHEREAS, John Meyer was the recipient of the Thomas J.
Crowe Interracial Justice Award; he was also chosen as a First
Citizen of Danville in 1987; and

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WHEREAS, John Meyer was an active member of his community;
he participated in youth football, the Museum Society, the
United Way, the Schlarman Foundation, the Danville Dans, and
his pet project, The Christian Home for Youth, which assisted
in the rehabilitation of juveniles who came before the Juvenile
Court; he was also a member of St. Paul's Church, the American
Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
the Elks Club, the Danville Country Club, the Illinois Judges
Association, and the Vermilion County and American Bar
Associations; and
WHEREAS, John Meyer and his wife purchased, sold, and raced
thoroughbred horses, some of whom were winners of races in
Florida, Kentucky, and Illinois; he was also the author of the
popular book, "Observations of an Elderly Gentleman"; and
WHEREAS, John Meyer is survived by his children, John P.
(Toni) Meyer, Jr., Marilyn (Rudy) Manfredi, Elizabeth
(Russell) Elam, Michael Meyer, Melinda (David) Jankowski, and
Christopher P. (Susan) Meyer; his stepson, Robert "Rob" (Kathy)
Fagot; his 11 grandchildren; his 13 great-grandchildren; and 7
step-grandchildren; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
family and friends, mourn the passing of John P. Meyer; and be

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it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of John Meyer as an expression of our
sympathy.