Bill Text: IL SR0281 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of former Peoria Mayor Richard Ellison Carver.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-11 - Resolution Adopted [SR0281 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0281-Introduced.html

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SR0281 LRB103 32290 MST 61586 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Richard Ellison Carver, former mayor
of Peoria, who passed away on May 5, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver was born in Des Moines, Iowa to
Maurice "Red" and Alice (Ellison) Carver on August 28, 1937;
he attended the University of Iowa, where he joined the Phi
Gamma Delta fraternity; he graduated from Bradley University
in Peoria; he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command,
attaining the rank of colonel; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver carried on his father's legacy as
president of the Carver Lumber Company; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver was a pillar of his community; he
had a long career in public service and never let a problem go
unsolved; he ran for the city council in his twenties and then
spent nearly two decades as Peoria's mayor; during his tenure,
he transformed downtown Peoria, building a civic center and
ushering in a new University of Illinois medical school
campus, among other things; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver's career moved to the national
stage by the late 1970s; he was appointed to presidential

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commissions under both President Carter and President Reagan;
he spearheaded a Mayors for Reagan campaign and was appointed
as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial
Management during the Reagan administration; he was proud of
his time at the Pentagon, and he called the Washington, D.C.
area home for nearly 30 years; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver and his wife had a passion for
travel and ventured to nearly every corner of the world,
including mainland China, Taiwan, Scandinavia, Russia, and
Papua New Guinea; based on his experiences, he developed the
opinion that the best cars, beer, coffee, and bread could all
be found in Germany, and he helped develop the relationship
between Peoria and its German sister city, Friedrichshafen,
into a strong and long-lasting bond; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver and Judy moved to Sarasota in 2013
for the sunny weather, and they enjoyed afternoons on the
lanai with their corgis, Jackson and Jack; in his retirement,
he had two homes on two golf courses, and you could often find
him on the green; if you ran into him golfing, you might have
overheard some very colorful language alongside his big,
booming laugh; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver was preceded in death by his wife
of 63 years, Judith; his parents; and his brother, Stephen

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Carver; and
WHEREAS, Richard Carver is survived by his children,
Kathryn (RJ) Binau, Stephen (Wendy) Carver, Cynthia (Patrick)
Smith, and Susan (Mark) Pendergrass; his grandchildren,
Caitlin, Shannon, Alexa, Collin, Christopher, Beau, Sheridan,
Kevin, and Hannah; and three great-grandchildren; 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
Richard Ellison Carver, former mayor of Peoria, 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 Richard Carver as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.