Bill Text: IL SR0018 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Norman Kelly.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-03-10 - Resolution Adopted [SR0018 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SR0018-Introduced.html

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SR0018 LRB102 10305 ECR 15632 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Norman "Norm" V. Kelly of Peoria, who
passed away on August 4, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was born to Orris and Lillian (Ryan)
Kelly in Peoria on April 24, 1932; he graduated from Woodruff
High School in 1950; he served in the Korean War as a Staff
Sergeant in a medical unit; after the war, he attended Bradley
University and graduated in 1958; he married Gloria Keith in
Peoria on September 23, 1961; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly worked as a private investigator and
as a paralegal; he was a well known radio personality who
appeared on all of the local talk shows in Peoria as well as
several T.V. shows; he was a frequent speaker at service clubs
and luncheons; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was an accomplished writer who had
written ten books about the history of Peoria, mostly focusing
on the bawdy, seedy, and dangerous elements of Peoria's long
history from 1845 through 1950; he also wrote the book Officer
Down, which chronicled the death of officers that had died in
the line of duty in Peoria; Genisis: The Park Murders was his
penultimate book, which sold out the first two printings; his

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last book was False Face; he was a member of the prestigious
Mystery Writers of America for many years; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly also wrote close to 300 short stories,
including mystery, fiction, and adventure pieces; he wrote
hundreds of articles about Peoria and wrote for NEWS and VIEWS
and stories for The Times Observer, Arts and Society, Journal
Star, and Downstate Story; he had stories printed in multiple
newspapers, America's Most Wanted, dozens of newsletters, and
Central Illinois Business Publishers; he wrote the play The
Case of the Missing Manuscript for the Peoria Library; this
play was shown on local TV and starred local celebrities; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly discovered that PFC Zimmerman, the
first soldier with ties to Peoria to die in the Korean War, was
not on the Korean Monument in Peoria; PFC Zimmerman was added
to the monument after this discovery; he wrote stories of five
officers that had died in the line of duty but were never
honored, and their names are now on all three police memorials
in Illinois and in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was selected as a Distinguished Alumni
of Woodruff High School in 2006; he was awarded the Landin
Award from the Peoria Park District and two distinguished
service awards from the Peoria and State Police Departments;
he represented the United States as the U.S. Clue Champion in

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1986 in New York City; he gave $12,000 to local non-profit
organizations in Peoria over the years; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly was preceded in death by his parents
and his eight siblings; and
WHEREAS, Norm Kelly is survived by his wife; his daughter,
Lynne Renee (Paul) Schelly; his son, Keith (Angie) Kelly; his
grandchildren, Brooke (Chris) Galvan and Sam Schelly; his
sister, Sara Shatto; his brother, David (Debbie) Kelly; and
his several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Norman "Norm" V. Kelly 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 Norm Kelly as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.