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1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of J. Sam Garnati of Herrin, who passed
4 away on January 2, 2025; and
5 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati, the son of Sylvia (Pellegrini)
6 Garnati and Charles Garnati, was born in Herrin on November
7 15, 1923; he attended St. Mary's Grade School and graduated
8 from Herrin High School in 1942; he served in the U.S. Army
9 during World War II from March 1943 to March 1946, and he was
10 stationed overseas for 18 months; he first served in the First
11 Army and then was transferred to General George S. Patton's
12 Third Army Division, beginning his military career as an
13 infantryman and later serving as an ambulance driver; he
14 married Helen Hemlock at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic
15 Church in Herrin on April 13, 1944, and she preceded him in
16 death on March 27, 2000; and
17 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati joined the Illinois State Police in
18 March 1949, and he was promoted to corporal in 1959 and then
19 sergeant in 1964; he later worked as the desk sergeant for
20 District 13 in DuQuoin until he retired after 34 years of
21 service on December 31, 1982; and
22 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati was elected as the first chairman of
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1 the newly formed Shawnee Division of the Illinois Police
2 Association (IPA) in 1956; he later served as president of the
3 IPA statewide from 1988-1989, becoming the third state trooper
4 to ever hold this honor during the organization's 100-year
5 history; he became the first person to be awarded the IPA
6 Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019; and
7 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati belonged to several organizations and
8 participated in numerous community activities; he was a
9 lifelong member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church,
10 where he served as a Eucharistic minister; he was a Democratic
11 precinct committeeman, a member of the Williamson County
12 Sheriff's Merit Board, a 3rd and 4th degree member of the
13 Knights of Columbus, an active member of the Herrin American
14 Legion where he presented the annual American Legion Award to
15 the 8th grade graduating classes, and a member of the Herrin
16 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), where he served as head of the
17 Honor Guard for all military funerals; he participated in the
18 annual HerrinFesta Italiana activities, serving as the grand
19 parade marshal in 2002, and he was a member of the Bocce Ball
20 Committee; and
21 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati volunteered at the Williamson County
22 Child Advocacy Center and participated in its annual
23 fundraiser, Santa's Gift House; he also served on the Herrin
24 Community Food Pantry Board of Directors; he and his wife,
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1 Helen, were founding members of the food pantry, and its
2 building was renamed the Garnati Building in honor of his late
3 wife in August 2000; and
4 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati and his wife were named Citizens of
5 the Year by the Herrin Chamber of Commerce in 1998; and
6 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati was preceded in death by his wife;
7 his son, Charles "Chuck" Garnati; his parents; his sisters,
8 Anna Mae Wells and Rose Smith; and his nephew, Randy Wells; and
9 WHEREAS, Sam Garnati is survived by his daughter, Dr.
10 Karla (Dr. Robert L.) Mees; his grandchildren, Scott Mees and
11 Elizabeth Garnati; and his great-grandchild, Kiley Rigdon;
12 therefore, be it
13 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
14 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15 J. Sam Garnati and extend our sincere condolences to his
16 family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
17 further
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