IL HR0939

William Noel "Billy" Lawless passed away on November 8, 2024; he was born December 24, 1950, and immigrated to the United States from Galway, Ireland in 1998.

Lawless was a dairy farmer and Olympic-trained rower in Ireland before becoming a real estate agent and restaurateur in Chicago, founding the Gage Hospitality Group which operates the Irish Oak, The Gage, Acanto, Coda Di Volpe, and The Dawson.

Lawless advocated for immigration reform and undocumented immigrants' rights, working with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights on driver's license privileges and appearing with President Barack Obama in 2014 regarding immigration policy.

Lawless served as an appointed emigrant senator from the Republic of Ireland from 2016 to 2020, championing the Irish diaspora and immigration reform.

The Illinois House of Representatives mourns his passing and extends condolences to his wife Anne, four children, grandchildren, and extended family.