SJR11: Enrolled Joint Resolution

2021 Senate Joint Resolution 11

ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION

Relating to: honoring the life and commemorating the career and accomplishments of Rush Limbaugh.

Whereas, Rush Limbaugh died on February 17, 2021, at his home in Palm Beach, Florida; and

Whereas, Limbaugh was considered one of the most influential broadcasters in American history; and

Whereas, Limbaugh was a talk radio pioneer beloved by millions of loyal listeners for his ardent defense of conservative politics; and

Whereas, Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born on January 12, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the older of two sons of Mildred and Rush Limbaugh Jr., a lawyer and Republican activist; and

Whereas, Limbaugh made his own play-by-play baseball broadcasts as a boy, took a summer course in radio engineering at age 16, obtained a broadcaster's license, and started working as a disc jockey for a local radio station while still in high school; and

Whereas, in 1979, Limbaugh became director of sales and special events for the Kansas City Royals baseball team, a position he held for five years, although his irreverence rankled some in the front office; and

Whereas, after returning to radio, Limbaugh in 1988 launched “The Rush Limbaugh Show,” beginning its 32-year run as one of the nation's highest-rated talk radio programs; and

Whereas, Limbaugh's unforgettable voice touched people from many backgrounds, galvanizing support for conservative policies; and

Whereas, Limbaugh was honored to receive a letter from President Ronald Reagan in 1992 that anointed him “the number one voice of conservatism” in the United States; and

Whereas, Limbaugh demonstrated his generosity by raising millions for charities such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation; and

Whereas, Limbaugh received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during President Donald Trump's state of the union address on February 4, 2020, a day after Limbaugh announced he was suffering from advanced lung cancer; and

Whereas, among other heartfelt tributes, former President Trump said that Limbaugh's “honor, courage, strength, and loyalty will never be replaced”; and

Whereas, Limbaugh was the loving husband of Kathryn, who survives him, along with his younger brother David; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Legislature join in honoring the life and accomplishments of Rush Limbaugh and extend their condolences to his friends and dedicated listeners.