SR1504 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1504 LRB100 21196 ALS 37299 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Roy Williams, who passed away on February 14, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams was born in Pekin on September 23, 1919; he married Jackie Soldwedel in 1942; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams began working at a young age to help his family make it through the Great Depression; his first job was on a rail car in Pekin, flipping the backs of the seats to face east or west, depending on which way the rail car was traveling; he then got a job at the Pekin swimming pool, where he washed towels and worked as the shower boy for the bathers; all of the money he earned went toward helping his family; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams found music in high school; he played the saxophone, and he and his friends formed the band "Serenaders"; his band performed at the High Hat in Pekin and at various restaurants and bars throughout Pekin and Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams was best known for his community service around Pekin; he was the founder of Spruce Up Pekin, which he ran for 20 years; in 2004, he led the campaign to raise money for the Pekin clock tower on Capitol Street; he was a volunteer at and member of the Miller Center for 19 years, where he called bingo, participated in writing the newsletter, and raised money to help fund new programs; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams was a committee member of the Pekin Main Street organization, which focused on promoting and restoring the downtown historical area; he worked with the Pekin Police Department to aid in the acquisition of their first K-9 officer; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams will be remembered for his happy spirit and love for Pekin, a town he never wanted to leave; he believed that Pekin had everything a person needed to live a happy life; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams was preceded in death by his wife, Jackie; and

WHEREAS, Roy Williams is survived by his son, Tim Williams; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Roy Williams 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 Roy Williams as an expression of our deepest sympathy.