SR1751 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1751 LRB100 22009 ALS 40101 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald "Ron" Williamson of Glen Carbon, who passed away on May 6, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Ron Williamson was born in Wood River to R. Arthur and Marcella (Perrottet) Williamson on February 17, 1939; he grew up on the family farm in Dorsey and graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1956; he married Anita Whited on July 19, 1958; he continued his education at Washington University, attending school full-time while married with children and working full-time; as a student, he was elected President of Tau Beta Pi, Vice President of ETA Kappa Nu, and Secretary of IEEE; he graduated from Washington University with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1965; he then earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Server Institute at Washington University in 1967; and

WHEREAS, Ron Williamson began working for McDonnell Aircraft in February 1957; his many accomplishments there included being project leader for multiple programs, including project engineer for a facility that J.S. McDonnell called the "greatest in the free world"; he also worked in the Research Department and Phantom Works and served on numerous budgetary, planning, and union negotiation committees; he retired from McDonnell Douglas in February 1994; he then returned to work his farms in Dorsey and Gillespie; and

WHEREAS, Ron Williamson was active in his community and coached Little League baseball, church basketball, and YMCA soccer; he served the First Presbyterian Church as chair of the building and finance committee, elder, and deacon; he also served on the YMCA Board of Directors as the first Vice President of programs, where he started the YMCA soccer league, and the first Vice President of finance, where he started the YMCA Century Club; he was Chairman of the Board when the Esic YMCA's debt was retired; recently, he was a fund raiser for Washington University and was a member of the Eliot Society; his numerous awards included the Teammate of Distinction Award, the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Student Award, and the NSF Fellowship for graduate school; and

WHEREAS, Ron Williamson exuded personality; as a father and grandfather, he showed the importance of being driven to pursue knowledge and excellence; he also showed the endless fun and possibility that these traits offered; his personal tool room was unforgettable and reminded his grandchildren that life should be filled to the brim with curiosities, knowledge, and memories; and

WHEREAS, Ron Williamson was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers-in-law, Wayne Metz and Earl Whited; and

WHEREAS, Ron Williamson is survived by his wife, Anita; his children, Rhonda (Dr. Larry) Ketner, Rodney (Kathy) Williamson, and Randy (Karen) Williamson; his grandchildren, Braden, Ron, Jesse, Emily, Aaron, Christopher, Tara, and Kaylynn; his six great-grandchildren; and his sister, Darlene (Don) Gusewelle; therefore, be it

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