HR0696 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0696 LRB100 15505 MST 30532 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representative are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Leland Phipps, who passed away May 22, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phipps was born in Kankakee to Odgen and Margaret Phipps on November 20, 1952; he received his engineering degree from Northwestern University and went on to earn his medical degree at the University of Illinois Medical Center in 1978; he completed his residency in family practice at the University of Kansas; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phipps began his career in rural medicine at the Paris Medical Center Clinic in 1981, where he practiced for the next 36 years, becoming an integral part of the community; and

WHEREAS, Due to the great shortage of obstetric services in rural areas, early in his career, Dr. Phipps delivered numerous babies, averaging 200 arrivals from the stork annually; he did this without a partner for several years, requiring him to be on call 24 hours a day; and

WHEREAS, During his many years of service to his hospital, Dr. Phipps was seen as their patriarch, taking many leadership roles as chief of staff, hospital board member, and the director of both the Diabetes Management Program and the Respiratory Therapy Department, where he mentored many students who went on to achieve successful careers in healthcare; and

WHEREAS, In addition to serving on the Edgar County Board of Health, Dr. Phipps was an active member in a variety of professional associations both at the local and international levels, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Diabetes Association, the Edgar County Medical Society, the Southern Illinois Medical Association, the Illinois State Medical Society, and the World Organization of Family Doctors; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phipps was viewed by many as the last of the typical country doctors, seeing who ever needed to be seen in a day, regardless of the number of patients he already had scheduled; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phipps shared his medical expertise as a clinical instructor at both Southern Illinois University and the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phipps received the 2017 Rural Physician of Excellence Award posthumously from the Illinois Rural Health Association; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phipps was a passionate fan of his beloved Chicago Cubs; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phipps made a huge impact improving the healthcare environment in eastern Illinois, through the many generations of families he treated, as well as the students he inspired, and his death has left a tremendous void in the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dr. Leland Phipps and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy be presented to his family and loved ones as an expression of our deepest sympathy.