Illinois SR 808: MEMORIAL-LEROY G. MCDANIELS

Bill Text

Full Text of SR0808 

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 Illinois General Assembly

 ILGA.GOV 

 SR0808 - 104th General Assembly 

SR0808LRB104 21969 RMO 37932 r

1SENATE RESOLUTION

2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 

3to learn of the death of Leroy G. McDaniels of Springfield, who 

4passed away on April 30, 2026; and

5 WHEREAS, Leroy McDaniels, the son of Lillie Mae (McDaniel) 

6Daniels and Harry Flake, was born in Springfield on August 9, 

71945; his lifelong commitment to gymnastics began at Feitshans 

8High School, where he served as team captain before graduating 

9in 1964; and

10 WHEREAS, Leroy McDaniels worked for Springfield's 

11Department of Recreation for 10 years and developed the city's 

12first and only tumbling team, Flip Flops; together with his 

13wife, Merrill, he founded L&M Gymnastics in 1975 and ran the 

14business for 49 years, also accepting an invitation to open a 

15second location in Pekin; he was a recurring summer coach at 

16the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University 

17of Illinois Chicago for many years in addition to teaching 

18physical education at Blessed Sacrament School and serving as 

19a liaison worker for Springfield District 186; and

20 WHEREAS, Leroy McDaniels, known to his gymnasts as Coach 

21Leroy, made worldwide connections through his dedication to 

22the sport; he escorted gymnasts to 12 countries, including a 

SR0808- 2 -LRB104 21969 RMO 37932 r

1performance at The Expo '92 in Seville, Spain, where the US 

2Commander General designated the team as "Goodwill 

3Ambassadors"; L&M Gymnastics hosted athletes and teams from 

4England and the Philippines as well as world-class gymnast 

5Kurt Thomas, and Olympian Dominique Dawes joined the 

6organization on its float at the State fair; and

7 WHEREAS, Leroy McDaniels made a lasting impact on the 

8Springfield community and beyond; he coached countless 

9champions at the state, national, and international levels and 

10was proclaimed the Trainer of Champions by the State Journal 

11Register; he was inducted into the Springfield Sports Hall of 

12Fame as a Friend of Sports in 1998; and

13 WHEREAS, Leroy McDaniels was preceded in death by his 

14parents and his brother, Jackie Daniels; and

15 WHEREAS, Leroy McDaniels is survived by his wife of 59 

16years, Merrill; his son, Tim Garrison; his siblings, Eugene 

17Daniels, Nora Gilmer, and Lorraine (Mitchell) Lathan; his 

18aunt, Roberta Rhoades; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, 

19great-nephews, great-great-nieces, great-great-nephews, and 

20cousins; and his godchildren, Marci Kristoff and Ryanne 

21Glasper; therefore, be it

22 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 

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1ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 

2Leroy G. McDaniels and extend our sincere condolences to his 

3family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 

4further

5 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 

6presented to the family of Leroy McDaniels as an expression of 

7our deepest sympathy.