Senate honors former Sen. Dixon with Durbin-Kirk resolution

WASHINGTON — Senators honored one of their own on Monday, passing a resolution applauding the long career of former Sen. Alan J. Dixon, D-Ill., who died on Sunday, for “his impeccable honesty, willingness to reach across the aisle and across Illinois, and leadership in the State (that) earned him the nickname of Al the Pal.” The measure was sponsored by the Illinois Senators Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and Mark Kirk, a Republican.

Funeral services for Dixon will be Monday at Lindenwood University in Belleville, Ill. My Monday column on Dixon is HERE.

“Alan Dixon was well-loved in the United States Senate, where his friendships reached across the aisle,” Durbin said in a statement. “Al and his brand of politics – honest and honorable – will be missed both here in Washington and at home in Illinois.”

“In his nearly forty decades of public service, Alan Dixon exemplified the importance of bipartisanship,” Kirk said in a statement “Dixon consistently ensured the people of Illinois had a reliable and committed voice in the U.S. Senate, and without his leadership, Illinois would have lost Scott Air Force base, which is the largest employer south of I-80. Illinois will forever be grateful for his dedication to our state.”

BELOW, THE DIXON RESOLUTION…..

Resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Alan John Dixon, former United States Senator for the State of Illinois

Whereas Alan John Dixon was born in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois on July 7, 1927, served in the United States Navy Air Corps in 1945, graduated from the University of Illinois in 1949, graduated Washington University School of Law, St. Louis Missouri, 1949, passed the Illinois bar in 1949, and commenced practice in Belleville;

Whereas Senator Dixon married his wife, Joan Louise “Jody” Fox, in 1954;

Whereas Senator Dixon is survived by his wife, Joan; two daughters, Stephanie Yearian of Waterloo, Illinois, and Elizabeth Megaw of Fairfax, Virginia, one son, Jeffrey Dixon of Chicago, Illinois, eight grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren;

Whereas Senator Dixon was elected Belleville, Illinois, Police Magistrate in 1949;

Whereas Senator Dixon was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives from 1951-1963, elected to the Illinois Senate from 1963-1971, and served as Minority Whip of the body from 1964-1971;

Whereas Senator Dixon served as Illinois Treasurer from 1971-1977 and Illinois Secretary of State from 1977-1981;

Whereas Senator Dixon was elected to the United States Senate in 1980, serving until 1993;

Whereas Senator Dixon continued to serve his country as chair of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission from 1994-1995;

Whereas Senator Dixon served his State of Illinois for 42 years;

Whereas Senator Dixon was the first statewide Democrat in Illinois to make full disclosure of his net financial worth and began the tradition in Washington of bipartisan Illinois Congressional lunches.

Whereas his impeccable honesty, willingness to reach across the aisle and across Illinois, and leadership in the State earned him the nickname of Al the Pal.

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Alan John Dixon, former member of the United States Senate.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the deceased.

Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Alan John Dixon.