Bill Text: IL SR1167 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Lt. Thomas M. "Tommy" Houser.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-05-24 - Resolution Adopted [SR1167 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR1167-Introduced.html

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SR1167 LRB101 20992 LAW 71081 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Lt. Thomas M. "Tommy" Houser of Sullivan,
who passed away on February 27, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Houser was born in Decatur to Thomas R. and
Nona (Bodine) Houser on March 3, 1967; he married Elizabeth
Myers in Decatur on June 18, 1988; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Houser's law enforcement career spanned more
than 31 years; he started with the Sullivan Police Department;
he then served in the Moultrie County Sheriff's Department
before joining the Illinois State Police after graduating in
Cadet Class 100; and
WHEREAS, As an officer in the Illinois State Police, Lt.
Houser was first assigned to District 10 Patrol; he transferred
to Zone 5 Investigations in 2002, where he served in the
capacity of the Methamphetamine Response Team; he was promoted
to Sergeant in 2006; he became a hostage negotiator for the
Illinois State Police in 2007; he took command of the East
Central Illinois Task Force (ECITF) and was promoted to Master
Sergeant in 2009; he became the Zone 5 Lieutenant and
transitioned within the department to the Division of Criminal
Investigation (DCI) in 2015, where he proudly remained for the

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duration of his career, in addition to serving as Chief of
Staff for Colonel Jill Rizzs; he supervised General Criminal
Investigations, the East Central Illinois Task Force, and the
Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group; he was
promoted to Lieutenant in 2018; he retired from the Illinois
State Police on October 1, 2019; and
WHEREAS, During his career, Lt. Houser was awarded a Life
Saving Award, a department commendation, multiple letters of
appreciation, and a Certificate of Recognition; he
consistently performed his duties to the highest standards and
personally epitomized the Illinois State Police's tenets of
Integrity, Service, and Pride; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Houser was a member of the Sullivan Faith
Lutheran Church, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #41, Teamsters
Local 700, and the Moultrie County Dive Team; he also served as
a Moultrie County Dare Officer; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Houser was preceded in death by his father,
Thomas R. Houser; his mother-in-law, Nancy Myers; and his
maternal and paternal grandparents; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Houser is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his
sons, Kyler T. Houser and Kedrick H. Houser; Kedrick's fiancé,
Keeley Benning; his mother, Nona Houser; his father-in-law,

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James Myers (Helen); his brother, Richard L. (Justi) Houser;
his sister, Michele (Chris) Brownlow; his stepbrother, James
(Karen) Hancock; his niece, Raeshel (Stephen) Duncan; his
nephews, Dominick (Tabatha) Braden, Austin Cory (Robin), and
Dalton Brownlow; his great-niece, Layne Cory, with another
great-niece expected in June; his great-nephews, Cannon and
Talon Bradon; his special aunt, Maggie Myers; his several other
beloved aunts and uncles; his friends; and the law enforcement
officers' families; 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
Lt. Thomas M. "Tommy" Houser 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 Lt. Houser as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.