Bill Text: IL HR0794 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Burl Wayne Griffith, the former Mayor of Dieterich.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-05-17 - Resolution Adopted [HR0794 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0794-Introduced.html

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HR0794 LRB103 40597 ECR 73226 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Burl
Wayne Griffith, the former Mayor of Dieterich, who passed away
on March 31, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was born to Glen Dale and Lorene
Griffith in Effingham on January 3, 1950; he lived in
Dieterich his entire life; he graduated from Dieterich High
School in 1968, where he was a member of the yearbook staff,
the historian club, and the student council, played on the
basketball and baseball teams, and ran track and cross
country; he attended Lakeland College from 1968 to 1970; he
received a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor
in physical education from Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville in 1972, where he was a scholarship athlete; he
married Audrey Weiffenbach at the First Christian Church in
Effingham on November 9, 1974, and they had three children,
Trent Wayne, Ty, and Tori Lorene; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith worked as a substitute teacher in
Effingham and Jasper Counties for two and a half years; he
served as a transportation engineer at Ameren/CIPS in Newton
and as a steward for Local 702 for many years; and

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WHEREAS, Burl Griffith possessed extraordinary love and
insight into the future for his community while serving as
Mayor of Dieterich for two terms; during his tenure, he
encouraged new businesses to come to Dieterich and helped
establish North Pointe, a new, affordable subdivision targeted
towards people with growing families; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith served as a school board member of
Dieterich Community Unit School District 30 for many years; he
was instrumental in helping the implementation of Spanish into
the school curriculum, securing land to build a preschool for
the district, and overseeing the completion of a large
remodeling project; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was an active member of his
community, serving as a deacon at the First Christian Church
in Dieterich, a precinct committeeman for several years, and a
volunteer firefighter; he was also a member of the Winterrowd
Masonic Lodge #664 in Dieterich and was a Shriner with the
Ainad Temple; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith continued the legacy of his late
mother by helping form and operate the Dieterich Park District
while coaching Little League; in turn, he encouraged and
instilled civic responsibilities in his children by making it
a family project to assist with the building and maintenance

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of the Dieterich Park District and Veterans Memorial; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was a sports fan all of his life,
and he often participated in pick-up basketball games on
Saturday mornings with local talent; he played on a 45 and
older men's basketball team until age 55, and his team, D-J's
Party and Supply, became tournament champions; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was one-of-a-kind and never met a
stranger, and he would do anything for those in need without
wanting credit; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith was preceded in death by his
parents; his son, Trent Wayne Griffith; his sister, Betty Dale
Klein; his brother-in-law, Rocky Bloemker; and his nephew,
Brandon Weiffenbach; and
WHEREAS, Burl Griffith is survived by his wife of 49
years, Audrey Griffith; his children, Ty (Bri) Griffith and
Tori (Jeff) Amburn; his grandchildren, Charlotte, Sutton, and
Alexander; his sister, Marsha (Hallie) Beals; his
brothers-in-law, Bud (Fran) Klein and John F. (Cathy)
Weiffenbach; his sister-in-law, Cleone Bloemker; and several
nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE

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HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Burl Wayne Griffith, the former Mayor
of Dieterich, and extend our sincere condolences to his
family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
further