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SR 409

MEMORIAL-CHARLES SCHWEIGHAUSER

104th Regular Session Introduced by Steve McClure

Mourning the passing of Charles A. Schweighauser for lifelong contributions as an educator, astronomer, author, and community leader, with condolences and tribute to his family.

Resolution Adopted
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Bill Summary · SR 409

SR 409 — Memorial: Charles Arthur Schweighauser

Status: Resolution Adopted
Introduced: April 11, 2025 (Senate)
Classification: Senate resolution (memorial)

Purpose / Intent

SR 409 is a Senate memorial resolution mourning the passing of Charles Arthur Schweighauser (b. June 1, 1936; d. July 14, 2025) and recognizing his lifetime contributions as an educator, astronomer, author, and community leader. The resolution expresses the Senate’s condolences to his family and requests that a copy of the resolution be presented to them.

Key findings and recognitions (as stated in the resolution)

  • Education: Graduated St. Louis Country Day School (1954); B.A. (1958) and M.A. in English Literature (1960) from Williams College.
  • Early career: Founding director of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium (St. Louis) and taught astronomy at Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and University of Missouri–St. Louis.
  • Academic career at Sangamon State University / University of Illinois Springfield (UIS): Joined faculty in 1973; started the UIS astronomy program (1975); tenured in 1977; promoted to full professor in 1980; named professor emeritus (2002). Continued teaching at UIS branch programs after retirement.
  • Public engagement and program-building: Launched UIS “Star Parties” (1977); organized a nationally broadcast live feed of an annular eclipse (1994); helped found and fund the UIS Barber Research Observatory; developed telescopes including an instrument dedicated for use by people with physical disabilities.
  • Service and scholarship: Served on boards (e.g., Illinois Symphony Orchestra, National Undergraduate Research Observatory); worked as a consultant to agencies including the Illinois EPA; visiting roles at national observatories and NASA facilities are noted; authored books, monographs, and produced documentary films (including The Sangamon River: A Sense of Place).
  • Personal interests: International trout and salmon fishing; opera enthusiast and traveler with his wife, Barbara Jensen‑Schweighauser.
  • Family: The resolution notes he was preceded in death by parents and a sibling and lists surviving children, stepchildren, grandchildren and a great‑grandchild.

What the resolution does

  • Officially records the Senate’s mourning and condolences for Charles A. Schweighauser.
  • Directs that a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to his family as an expression of sympathy.

Who is affected / impacted

  • Primarily a symbolic and commemorative action affecting the family, friends, students, colleagues at UIS and other institutions, and the broader academic and astronomy communities who knew or were influenced by Schweighauser.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Legislative actions recorded (chronology in file): Senate Hopper (Mar 18, 2025); Senate read and adopted (Mar 20, 2025); received by Secretary of the Senate (Apr 11, 2025); co‑author authorized and read & adopted/reported enrolled (Apr 15, 2025); filed with Secretary and recorded as co‑sponsored by all senators and referred to Resolutions Consent Calendar (Oct 14, 2025); resolution adopted (Oct 15, 2025).
  • Sponsors (listed as primary): Nabilah Islam Parkes; Sonya Halpern; Kim Jackson; David Lucas; Ed Harbison; Nikki Merritt; Derek Mallow; Nan Orrock; Harold Jones II; Steve McClure.

Note on source document

The version content provided for SR 409 also contains an unrelated short Georgia-style recognition of “Darren Myles” (a separate commendation). That material appears to be an insertion from a different resolution and is not related to the memorial for Charles Schweighauser. The substantive memorial summarized above reflects the resolution titled MEMORIAL — CHARLES SCHWEIGHAUSER.

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

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