SR0575 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0575 LRB097 20057 KXB 65390 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Merritt Austin King of Geneva, who passed away on January 24, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 2, 1918, the son of Charles and Ruth King; he moved to Geneva in 1928 and was a graduate of Geneva High School, class of 1939; he was united in marriage to Lynne Pearson on December 6, 1944 in London, England while serving in the United States Army in World War II; and

WHEREAS, He was present vice chairman and secretary of the Kane County Public Building Commission under several mayors since 1989; he was the alderman of Ward Two for 28 years in Geneva; he served as the Mayor Pro Tem for 12 years; as an alderman, he served as Chairman of the Streets and Walks Committee, the Parking Committee, and the Intergovernmental Relations Committee; he was a former member of the City of Geneva's Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Past President and a Board Member of the Geneva Memorial Community Center; and

WHEREAS, He was responsible for suggesting and implementing the installation of Geneva's Historic Third Street gas lamps; he was the Historian Emeritus for the Geneva History Center; he was a member of the Board of Directors for the Geneva Historical Society and had a life membership in the Geneva Historical Society; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the Geneva Township Senior Center Advisory Board; a volunteer at the Butterfly House of Peck Farm Park; a former member of the Illinois State Toll Highway Advisory Committee; Citizen of the Year; a member of the Geneva Masonic Lodge #139 AF&M; the 1995 Grand Marshall of the Geneva Swedish Days Parade; a 32nd degree Mason; a member of the Scottish Rite Medinah Temple; and a Shriner with the Fox Valley Shrine Club; and

WHEREAS, He was the Past Commander of American Legion Post #75; the historian and a life member of American Legion Post #75; and a Geneva Township Republican Precinct Committeeman from 1947 to 2006; he attended the Army War College and the Washington, D. C. Engineer School; and

WHEREAS, He was a decorated veteran, receiving the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, French Croix de Guerre, 4 Battle Stars, and a D-Day +3 Survivor, Omaha Beach; he flew 9 missions in aerial photo reconnaissance over Germany and France; he served 3 1/2 years overseas in Germany, France, England, Belgium, Africa, and Egypt; and he received 3 Citations from the Corps of Engineers; and

WHEREAS, He was a charter member of Topographic Engineers; he was a life member of the 7th Photo Recon Group; in recognition of his valor while a member of the U.S. Army, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor, Chevalier, by the French government on October 13, 2008; and

WHEREAS, He enjoyed many sports, excelling in track, football, and basketball at Geneva High School, earning him the lifetime nickname of "Speed"; as an adult he loved sailing, shooting skeet, and playing golf; he was thrilled to experience four holes-in-one over his lifetime; and

WHEREAS, He owned and operated King Heating and Air Conditioning in Geneva for many years; he was also honored to have flown on the second flight to Washington D.C. to view the World War II Memorial with Honor Flight Chicago on June 25, 2008; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Lynne; and his son Bryan; and

WHEREAS, Merritt King is survived by his daughters, Alison King and Lesley (Danny) Dimmick; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Merritt King; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Merritt King as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.