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Paul Findley Obituary
Paul Findley, Class of 1980 Lincoln Laureate, an 11-term Republican congressman from Illinois who was known for supporting civil rights and opposing the Vietnam War, died Aug. 9 at a hospital in Jacksonville, Ill. He was 98.
Mr. Findley was the publisher of a small-town weekly newspaper when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1960. Being a native of the Land of Lincoln, he often invoked Lincoln in his campaign rallies and could quote his speeches from memory.
During his 22 years in Congress, Mr. Findley served on the Agriculture Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, while cultivating an image as something of a maverick. He was a “conservative Republican” when he first ran for Congress, but he consistently supported civil rights legislation proposed by Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s. In 1965, Mr. Findley appointed the first African American page in the House of Representatives.
Mr. Findley was a Navy veteran of World War II, an author of the War Powers Act, and pushed for federal farm subsidies, introduced a resolution to begin impeachment proceedings against Vice President Spiro Agnew, who later resigned amid a corruption scandal.
In 1974, Mr. Findley helped obtain the release of a schoolteacher from his district who had been arrested in South Yemen and charged with being a spy. In his travels, Mr. Findley visited refugee camps and reached out to Arafat and other Arab leaders. At the time, Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization was designated a terrorist group by the U.S. government. Mr. Findley did not support recognition of the PLO, but he said in 1980 that “it makes sense for us to talk to the PLO, to communicate with them and try to influence their behavior. It would reduce tension and conflict in that area. We can’t wish the Palestinians away — they’re a fact.”
TV Air Dates of 2018 Rockford Convocation
Additional stations/dates to come:
WTTW-Chicago, WEIU-Charleston, and WILL-Urbana will be setting air dates in the near future.
(The program previously aired on WSIU-Carbondale and WUSI-Olney Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.)
2020 LAUREATE CONVOCATION
Saturday, April 18, 2020 in Normal on the campus of Illinois State University – Civic Committee Chairs Mrs. Marlene & President Larry Dietz
Frank Clark, Chancellor, and The Honorable Jay Robert “J.B.” Pritzker, President of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois
The Lincoln Academy of Illinois
MISSION STATEMENT
To honor individuals whose outstanding contributions to the betterment of mankind have been accomplished in or on behalf of the State of Illinois, or whose achievements have brought honor to the State because of their identity with it, whether by birth or residence, or by their dedication to those principles of democracy and humanity as exemplified by the great Illinoisan whose name we bear. These individuals, reflective of the diverse populace of the State of Illinois, are named Laureates of the Academy and receive the “Order of Lincoln,” the State of Illinois’ highest award, at an annual Convocation.
To honor one outstanding senior from each of the four year not-for-profit degree granting institutions and one outstanding senior from among all of the community college students who, in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, demonstrated leadership and service in his or her campus or community and excellence in curricular and co-curricular programs, to be named Student Laureates and receive the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award and the Lincoln Medallion.
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Thank you Veterans — each and every day — for your service and commitment to this country. 🇺🇸
How are laureates nominated?
Nominations of outstanding Illinoisans, whether by birth or by residence, are called for and received by the Executive Director from the Officers, Regents for Life, Regents, General Trustees and Rectors from the categories of endeavor from which the Academy selects its Laureates.
There are presently ten categories: Agriculture, The Arts and Performing Arts, Business, Industry and Communications, Education, Government and Law, Labor, Medicine and Science, Religion, Social Services and Sports. Nominations come through a voting Lincoln Academy member, and all nominations are screened by the Laureate Screening and Qualifying Committee.
More information you may find valuable about The Lincoln Academy of Illinois can be found here: thelincolnacademyofillinois.org
🎖Our New Chapter Series 🎖Meet the Member:
The Honorable Ronald Dean Spears, Vice-Chancellor.
When we asked him what his life motto was, he said: "One of the motto’s that has inspired me is The Optimist Creed. It was written by Christian Larsen in 1912 and adopted by the Optimist Club in 1922."
"Optimist International’s mission is that by providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in our youth, our communities and ourselves. The Optimist Creed is as follows:
PROMISE YOURSELF
⭐️ To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
⭐️ To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
⭐️ To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
⭐️ To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism some true.
⭐️ To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
⭐️ To be just enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
⭐️ To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
⭐️ To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
⭐️ To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
⭐️To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble."
"We conclude every Optimist Club meeting by reciting this Creed. Studies have shown that how we learn to see, interpret, and respond to life’s events is important. Positive thinking, enthusiasm, persistence, and attitude are important not only to well-being but to success in life."
Read more here:
thelincolnacademyofillinois.org/new-chapters/
Bravo Christian Larsen!
Funds raised at the Academy’s Order of Lincoln Convocation help provide the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement awards and the ‘Lincoln Medallion’ which will be presented by the Academy’s President to each of 57 Student Laureates at a separate ceremony held in Springfield later this year.
Thus, the Lincoln Academy honors the Great Citizens of Today and Celebrates the Great Citizens of Tomorrow — knowing that now, as always, our state and nation need what Vachel Lindsay called ‘Lincoln-hearted’ men and women.
Mr. Lincoln would be proud.