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1		SENATE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3		to learn of the death of Willis Gamble Johnson of Downers
4		Grove, who passed away on August 16, 2023 at the age of 86; and
5		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson was a lifelong resident of Downers
6		Grove and was born to Elizabeth Gable and Willis "Abbot"
7		Johnson on January 11, 1937; and
8		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson graduated from Downers Grove
9		Community High School in 1955 and continued his education at
10		Western Michigan University, graduating in 1959; early in his
11		career, he served as a sergeant in the Army National Guard
12		before working at International Harvester as a time study
13		engineer; and
14		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson founded Johnson Printers with his
15		brother, Ross, before becoming co-founder and president of
16		Classic Cinemas/Tivoli Enterprises, which has grown to include
17		16 theater locations, including the historic Tivoli in Downers
18		Grove; and
19		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson's strong work ethic and relentless
20		dedication helped grow Classic Cinemas into the largest movie
21		theater chain based in Illinois; he adored restoring old

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1		buildings and converting them into valuable additions to the
2		surrounding community; and
3		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson always prioritized community
4		involvement and was very active in business, historic, and
5		civic organizations in Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Oak Park, and
6		other towns where he owned theaters; and
7		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson received countless honors for his
8		service, including being inducted into the Elmhurst Civic Hall
9		of Fame in 2002 and being chosen as Downers Grove Citizen of
10		the Year in 2010; he and his wife, Shirley, were honored by the
11		Downers Grove Historical Society as Historians of the Year in
12		2023 and were featured in a documentary film entitled History
13		Happens Here: The Tivoli Theater; and
14		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson was proud to have his son, Chris,
15		continue the legacy of the company he helped build; he also
16		served as a past president of the National Association of
17		Theater Owners of Illinois; and
18		WHEREAS, In his youth, Willis Johnson loved cars and was
19		known around town for his sky blue 1937 Ford with a white
20		leather interior, a car which he fixed and customized; in his
21		later years, he appreciated the beauty of flowers, frequently
22		incorporating landscaping along theater entries, parking lots,

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1		and his own yard; and
2		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson enjoyed weekends at Lake Holiday
3		with his family and had an extensive collection of Lego sets
4		that he liked to build in his spare time; and
5		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson was preceded in death by his
6		sister, Sara Homberg, and his brother-in-law, Robert Griffin;
7		and
8		WHEREAS, Willis Johnson is survived by his wife of 46
9		years, Shirley; his children, Stephen Johnson, Kay Johnson,
10		Chris Johnson, Wendy Leick, and Amy Balicki; his stepchildren,
11		Mary Reichl and Richard Winters; and his 14 grandchildren;
12		therefore, be it
13		RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
14		ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15		Willis Gamble Johnson and extend our sincere condolences to
16		his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
17		further