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SR 328

Commending the Roanoke Higher Education Center.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Head and 1 co-sponsor

Ceremonial Senate resolution honors Lt. Col. (Ret.) Geneva Heyward for 27 years of Army service and mourns Gary Lee Lane, offering condolences to his family.

Bill text as passed Senate (SR328ER)
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Bill Summary · SR 328

Summary — SR 328 (Resolution Adopted)

Purpose

SR 328 is a ceremonial (non‑binding) Senate resolution recognizing public service and mourning the death of individuals. The version text provided appears to include two distinct memorial/commendation resolutions combined into one document:

  1. A commendation recognizing Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward for her 27 years of service in the U.S. Army Signal Corps.
  2. A memorial mourning the death of Gary Lee (Gary) Lane of Spaulding, Illinois, and offering condolences to his family.

Because the file contains both texts, this summary treats each component separately and flags the mix as a document discrepancy.

Component A — Commendation: Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Geneva Heyward

  • Purpose: Recognize and commend Lt. Col. (Ret.) Geneva Heyward for her distinguished military career and community service.
  • Key facts and highlights:
    • Commissioned as Second Lieutenant after graduating Central State University (Wilberforce, OH); began service in 1981.
    • Served 27 years in the U.S. Army (active and Reserve) as a Communications Electronic Officer in the Signal Corps.
    • Assignments included Fort Gordon, U.S. Army Airborne Command Forces, 52nd Signal Battalion in Germany (notably the European Telephone Exchange cutover), 335th Signal Theater Command, 2nd Battalion 347th Regiment (87th Division), FORSCOM Augmentation Unit (G6), and 1st Army Headquarters at Fort Gillem.
    • Promotions: 1st Lt (1982), Captain (1985), Major (1993), Lieutenant Colonel (2000).
    • Education: Signal Corps Officer Basic Course; Command and General Staff College (1994).
    • Awards: President’s Lifetime Achievement Award; two Meritorious Service Medals, among others.
    • Community service: Charter and life member of the National Association of Black Military Women; volunteer with NABMW’s Real Women Read initiative.
  • Resolution action: Senate recognizes and commends her and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide an appropriate copy of the resolution to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Heyward.

Component B — Memorial: Gary Lee Lane (Illinois)

  • Purpose: Mourn the passing of Gary Lee Lane (b. June 16, 1963; d. May 6, 2025) and extend condolences to his family and community.
  • Key facts and highlights:
    • Native of Springfield, Illinois; Lanphier High School graduate (1981).
    • Member of Iron Workers Union Local 46; worked as transportation supervisor for Riverton Community Unit School District #14.
    • Community engagement: long‑time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity; led mission trips for his children; avid dirt‑racing fan.
    • Family: Survived by ex‑wife Brenda (Dalton) Lane, daughters Mary and Brittany Lane; bonus children and grandchildren; siblings and extended family. Preceded in death by parents and brother (PFC Robert “Bob” Lane).
  • Resolution action: The Illinois Senate expresses mourning and directs that a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to Mr. Lane’s family as an expression of sympathy.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Geneva Heyward and Gary Lee Lane’s family and local communities (recognition/condolences are symbolic).
  • Secondary: Organizations mentioned (National Association of Black Military Women, Riverton CUSD #14, Iron Workers Local 46) and constituents who value such official acknowledgements.

Legislative status & timeline

  • Introduced/received: March 24, 2025 (received by Secretary of the Senate on that date).
  • Read & adopted (Senate): March 24–26, 2025 (multiple entries indicate read and adopted March 24 and March 26).
  • Reported enrolled: March 26, 2025.
  • Filed with Secretary / Co‑sponsors / Consent calendar: May 20–22, 2025 (Co‑sponsor listing: “All Senators” on May 20; Resolution Adopted May 22).
  • Final status: Resolution Adopted.

Sponsors

Primary sponsors listed: Senators Kenya Wicks, Donzella James, Randal Mangham, Tonya Anderson, Jason Esteves, Michael “Doc” Rhett, Steve McClure. (Additional note: one part of the text references the Illinois Senate — indicating the document may combine texts from different states or resolutions.)

Notes / Discrepancy

  • The provided bill text appears to combine content from two separate memorial/commendation resolutions (one honoring Lt. Col. Geneva Heyward; another mourning Gary Lee Lane of Illinois). The sponsors listed (Georgia state senators) and the Illinois LRB header suggest material from different legislative bodies was merged. This summary reports both components and their substantive content; confirm with the official Senate journal or resolution filing for the final, authoritative text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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