SR1093 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1093 LRB100 15635 MST 30730 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Walter L. "Chick" Bishop of Litchfield, who passed away on November 7, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bishop was born in Litchfield to Walter Lawrence and Mary Francis (Burke) Bishop on October 7, 1935; he graduated from Litchfield Community High School in 1953; he received his bachelor's degree in education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) in 1958, a master's degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1963, and a Doctorate of Education from Illinois State University in 1975; he excelled in many sports in both high school and college and lettered in football, wrestling, and track at SIU Carbondale; in the late 1950s to the early 1960s, he served in the United States Army and the Illinois National Guard; he married his high school sweetheart Hester Williams; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bishop's career in education began in 1958 as an elementary teacher at Raymond Grade School; he was the principal and sixth grade teacher at Ida J. Russell School in Litchfield from 1959 to 1967; from 1967 to 1977 he served as the Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools; he later served as Superintendent of the Livingston School District; he was an associate professor at Northern Illinois University, a professor and department head at the University of Northern Iowa, the Director of the Springfield Education Consortium at Sangamon State University, and served as a consultant for the Illinois State Board of Education; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bishop was awarded the American Educators Medal in 1973 from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge; he penned the statement, "Education is the Eternal Flame of Freedom."; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bishop was an avid supporter of his local community, served on many committees, and was sought as a key-note speaker throughout the years; he served as the key-note speaker for 36 years for the local chapter of The Voice of Democracy, an annual nation-wide scholarship program sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bishop wrote the agriculture section for the Litchfield Sesquicentennial Book; he was well-known for his knowledge of farming, antique farm equipment, and the history of the Old West; he was instrumental in organizing numerous trail rides and was called upon to judge many horse and antique farm equipment shows throughout central Illinois; he was a member of the Christian Church of Litchfield; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bishop was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Colonel Thomas Bishop; and his sisters, Mary Lou Pitman and Elizabeth "Betty" Robey; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Bishop is survived by his wife, Hester; his sister, Judith (Dr. Eric) Strohmeyer; his children, Jane Bishop, Charles (Tammy) Bishop, Dale (Becky) Bishop, Don (Lisa) Bishop, Glenn (Kim) Bishop, and Ben (Cheryl) Bishop; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dr. Walter L. "Chick" Bishop, 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. Bishop as an expression of our deepest sympathy.