IL SR0927

William J. O'Connell Jr. of Peoria passed away on September 23, 2012, and the Illinois Senate expresses its mourning for his death.

O'Connell was a lifelong employee of the Journal Star who retired in 1996 as the newspaper's political reporter covering the Illinois Legislature and authored the "Off the Political Grapevine" column.

He received numerous professional honors including Illinois Journalist of the Year from Northern Illinois University in 1986 and a national award from the American Political Science Association.

O'Connell founded the St. Patrick's Society of Peoria in 1980, served as grand marshal of the Peoria St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1996, and was a member and former president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

He is survived by his wife Helen, five children, 12 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.