SR0326 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0326 LRB100 11973 MST 23868 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ernst Chester Bone, M.D. of Jacksonville, who passed away on March 15, 2017 at the age of 102; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone was born on a farm near Prairie City to Gratia Hope (Hyde) and Chester David Bone on March 3, 1915; he received his primary and secondary education in the Prairie City School System and graduated from Illinois College in 1936 with a Bachelor of Arts; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone taught chemistry and physics at Petersburg Harris High School for two years and then returned to Jacksonville as Director of Admissions at Illinois College; during that time, he earned his Master of Arts in Education from the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, In 1942, Dr. Bone enrolled in medical school; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Medicine in 1944 and his master's degree in 1946 from the University of Illinois School of Medicine while serving as a volunteer in the United States Navy V12 Program during World War II; he later served as a Naval physician during the Korean War while stationed in Bermuda; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone completed post-graduate training at the Illinois Research and Education Hospital, connected with the University of Illinois; he returned to Jacksonville and established his practice of clinical medicine and surgery on West State Street; in 1955, he co-founded the Bone-Scott Clinic on West State Street where no one was ever turned away and many appreciated receiving house calls; he also served for many years as Medical Director of Barton-Stone Nursing Home; in his spare time, he delivered over 4,500 babies; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone retired from clinical practice in 1989 but went on to serve over 25 years as a medical consultant for the State of Illinois Bureau of Disability Determination Services; he worked part-time until the age of 100; in addition, he served as medical consultant for the Illinois Department of Public Aid and as Associate Clinical Professor for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone was among a group of family physicians who founded the American Board of Family Practice (ABFP); he served as an officer for the ABFP's national board and represented family medicine on the American Board of Medical Specialties; multiple times he was President of the Morgan-Scott Medical Society, and was a member of the Illinois Medical Society, and the Illinois and American Academy of Physicians; he served as President of the Illinois State Academy of Family Practice and the American Academy of Family Practice; "Good Housekeeping" named him one of the nation's top 10 physicians; he received the Illinois State Family Practitioner of the Year Award and was recognized in the National Top Five Family Practitioners of the Year in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone was passionate about education; he served for nine years on the Jacksonville School District 117 Board of Directors and for over 25 years on the MacMurray College Board of Trustees; he served as President of the Illinois College Alumni Association and for 10 years as alumni representative on the Illinois College Board of Trustees; he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Illinois College in 1989 and an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from MacMurray College in 1990; as team physician, he was elected to the Illinois College and MacMurray College athletic Halls of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone had a lifelong interest in farming and was a lifetime member of the American Angus Association; as a young man, he was involved in 4H and in 1968 he was named Illinois State 4H Alumnus of the Year; he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary Club and was also named Jacksonville's Citizen of the Year and was inducted into the City of Jacksonville Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone served multiple terms as an elder of State Street Presbyterian and First Presbyterian Churches in Jacksonville, and was a member of The Literary Union men's literary society; he enjoyed the theater and performed for decades in the Passavant Hospital Follies, and several Ken Bradbury productions, including "The Shadow of Giants"; he served as President of the Salvation Army Board of Directors and was Co-Chair of the Prairieland United Way campaign; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mary Elizabeth Bone; his brothers, Maurice and James; his first wife, Eileen Kitts Bone; his close first cousin Gratia Hall Coultas; and his uncle, the Rev. John Hyde, a highly-regarded missionary known as Praying Hyde of India; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bone is survived by his wife, Louise K. Bone; his sons, Judge J. David (Patricia) Bone, Stephen Kitts (Patricia) Bone, and Timothy Robert Bone; his step-daughters, Jenny (Scott) Norris Peterson, and Kathryn (Christopher) Norris Kirt; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ernst Chester Bone, M.D., 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 of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Bone as an expression of our deepest sympathy.