HR1066 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Judge Richard Jay Elrod of Lincolnwood, who passed away on April 19, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Judge Elrod was born in Chicago on February 17, 1934; he attended Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia from 1947 to 1951, where he was an all-star football player; he graduated from Northwestern University, where he also played football, in 1955 with a degree in Political Science; he married Marilyn later that same year; he received his Juris Doctor in 1958 from Northwestern University Law School; and

WHEREAS, Judge Elrod had a long career of public service; his experience includes: Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago from 1958 to 1960, Chief City Prosecutor for the City of Chicago from 1965 to 1970, Illinois State Representative from 1969 to 1970, Sheriff of Cook County from 1970 to 1986, Senior Assistant Attorney General from 1986 to 1988, and Circuit Court of Cook County Judge starting August of 1988; and

WHEREAS, Judge Elrod's bar association, civic, and charitable work was extensive; some of the organizations for which he has served include: the Jewish Judges Association of Illinois, the Center for Disability and Elder Law (Board of Directors), Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago (President), the Chicago Bar Association, the National Council Boy Scouts of America, the Safer/Pace Foundation, the Grand Lodge of Masons of Illinois (33rd Degree), State of Israel Bonds (Chairman), the B'nai B'rith Council of Greater Chicago, the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, and the Medinah Shrine Police Unit and Legal Committee; and

WHEREAS, Judge Elrod received numerous special recognitions, including an appointment by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the United States President's Child Safety Partnership (1986), the American Board of Trial Advocates' Lifetime Achievement Award (2011), The Decalogue Society of Lawyers - Man of the Year (2012) recognition, and Mayor Richard J. Daley's Chicago Police Medal of Honor (1978); he received the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers - Man of the Year (1985) Award, the Disabled American Veterans - Meritorious Service Award (2005), the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Award, the Illinois Security Chiefs Association - Outstanding Service Award, the Chicago Bar Association - Bench and Bar Committee's Outstanding Service Award, the Medinah Shriners - Community Service Award, the Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry - Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contribution to Law Enforcement, and the Shaare Zedek Hospital's Man of the Year Award; he was the elected President of the National Sheriff's Association (1983-1984) and the Illinois Sheriff's Association (1978); and

WHEREAS, Judge Elrod is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marilyn; his children, Steven Elrod, Donna Elrod, Audrey Lakin, and Ron Lakin; and his grandchildren, Elizabeth Mollen, Russell Mollen, Daniel Elrod, David Lakin, and Lauren Lakin; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Judge Richard Jay Elrod, 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 Judge Elrod as an expression of our deepest sympathy.