MEMORIAL-DAVID L. SHAW

104th Regular Session Introduced by Steve McClure

A ceremonial Illinois Senate resolution honors and expresses condolences for Dave Shaw Sr., detailing his life, military service, and charitable community impact.

Resolution Adopted

Summary of SR0780 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Purpose and Intent

SR0780 is a Senate Resolution honoring and mourning the death of David L. "Dave" Shaw Sr. of Springfield, Illinois, who passed away on March 29, 2026.

The resolution serves as a formal expression of the Illinois Senate’s condolences to Shaw’s family, friends, and community.

Key Provisions and Changes

The bill does not enact law or create policy. As a memorial resolution, its primary content is:

A biographical summary of Dave Shaw’s life, including birth date (December 5, 1948) and place (Springfield), marriage (Donna Jean Stout on October 6, 1989), military service, and notable recognitions.
A statement of Shaw’s public service and charitable involvement (e.g., chairman of Toys for Tots, vice president of VietNow) and evidence of his impact through gratitude letters from organizations he supported.
An obituary-like account of his family members, including his children, stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and siblings.
The formal expression of sympathy and the request to present a suitable copy of the resolution to Shaw’s family.

Affected Parties

Directly affected: The family and friends of David L. Shaw, Sr., and the broader Springfield and Illinois community that recognizes his service.

Indirectly affected: Members of the Illinois Senate and the public who observe the legislature’s commemoration of notable local figures and veterans.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Action History:

Filed with Secretary: May 7, 2026
Co-Sponsor: All Senators (shared sponsorship)
Referred to: Resolutions Consent Calendar

Sponsor: Co-sponsor Steve McClure

Nature: Non-binding, ceremonial resolution intended to formally acknowledge Shaw’s contributions and extend condolences.

Next steps: Typically, after passage, a copy is presented to Shaw’s family; it does not affect statute or public policy and does not require a gubernatorial signature.

Notable Details

Military service: United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War (Base Camp Lejeune, April 1966 – June 1969), rank Lance Corporal, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division.

Decorations: Purple Heart with two Gold Stars, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal.

Community involvement: Leadership roles with Toys for Tots and VietNow, reflecting a commitment to veterans and charitable activities.

Personal losses and survivors are listed to provide a complete biographical memorial.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a briefing memo, a social media post, or a public-facing webpage, and incorporate any additional context about how memorial resolutions function within the Illinois General Assembly.