At the end of a long day capping the opening of Springfield Clinic's pediatrics building on Old Jacksonville Road last fall, Justin Fowler was shepherding corporate sponsors for a group photo he was taking with his cell phone.
Fowler felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see a familiar face: Lee Milner.
"It was indicative of no matter what the occasion," said Fowler, Springfield Clinic's visual communication specialist and former State Journal-Register photographer, "Lee was there. He was willing to take somebody's picture again."
Milner, a longtime presence around the State Capitol Building and Springfield with his camera, died April 17 after a recurrence of pancreatic cancer. He was 78.
A memorial service is set for Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. Sixth St., from 4 to 7 p.m. April 23.
Milner is survived by his wife, Cindy; a son, James, and a daughter, Leanne Sappington, both of Los Angeles, and one grandson.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker had declared April 10 Lee Milner Day when he was feted by friends and former colleagues at the capitol's press offices.
Via X, formerly known as Twitter, Pritzker said he was "heartbroken" to learn about Milner's passing.
"He was beloved across the political spectrum and (Illinois), a testament to his ability to connect with those he came in contact with through his lens," Pritzker noted.
Milner was the longtime spokesperson for the Illinois State Board of Education before retiring in 2004. Milner got his start around the capitol working for Illinois Speaker of the House, Rep. William Redmond, D-Bensenville, and was later Gov. Patrick Quinn's photographer.
Milner also worked as a freelance photojournalist.
Fowler said Milner and State Journal-Register political writer and columnist Bernard Schoenburg in particular showed him the ropes around the capitol.
"There are a lot of players in that environment," Fowler observed. "I equate covering the Statehouse to covering sports. You have to know what's happening next.
"He was always willing to help. Lee was genuinely one of the nicest people I ever met."
James Milner said he and his father were bowled over by the support at the capitol and at another open house several weeks ago.
"He said it was exciting but also a little embarrassing," recalled James Milner, who works in the film industry.
Milner said his father cared about the news, especially local news and the reporters who covered it.
"I don't how many people told me, 'I couldn't have survived the first six months on the job without your father,'" he recalled. "I couldn't have asked for a better tribute."
In covering events around town, Fowler said there was one thing he could count on.
"I knew if Lee was there," he said, "it was probably important."
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
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