SR0808 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0808 LRB101 15406 MST 64668 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Richard G. Macdonald of Peoria, who passed away on October 31, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was born in Evanston to Dr. Hugh and Edith Macdonald on December 31, 1936; he graduated from Peoria High School and attended the University of Illinois; he graduated from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1960 and joined the U.S. Army, becoming the 18th podiatrist commissioned in its history; he married Sally Anderson in 1961; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, Dr. Macdonald returned to Peoria and established a private podiatric practice, specializing in foot surgery, diabetic care, and ulcers; during his career, he was a clinical instructor with the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria; he published numerous articles in his field; he was affiliated with OSF Saint Francis Hospital, Methodist Hospital, and Proctor Hospital; he was a consultant for the VA Out-Patient Clinic and served on the Alumni Board of Directors at the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was a tireless advocate for podiatry; he worked to increase its reputation as a cost-effective medical and surgical discipline; he led a landmark federal case seeking full credentialing; for his pioneering work, he was honored in 2011 as Scholl College Alumnus of the Year; in 2016, he received the American Podiatric Medical Association's Meritorious Service Award for his profound impact on the field; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald retired in 2007; he authored two books, Inside the gates: The Nazi Concentration Camp at Ebensee, Austria, which chronicles the war experience of his father, and The Whooping Cough Germ That Became a Hero, a children's book illustrating his father's collaborative work to develop the first whooping cough vaccine, which is still in use today; he lectured on wartime events at public libraries, universities, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Bradley University, and military museums; he felt humbled to meet camp survivors and veterans of his father's unit; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was a long-time member of the Peoria Rotary Club, serving on its board of directors; he also served on the Peoria Symphony Orchestra board and was a board member in the church of his youth, the Universalist-Unitarian Church of Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was affectionately known as "Dr. Mac"; he was a warm and generous presence; he rarely met a joke, no matter how inappropriate, that he didn't believe worth sharing; he was an avid news junkie and mocker of hubris and penned many a blistering letter to the editor; he enjoyed traveling; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was preceded in death by his wife, Sally; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald is survived by his partner of many years, Barbara O'Brien; his sons, Richard (Elizabeth Morrison) and Philip (Dena); his daughter, Annie; his grandchildren, Evelyn Morrison and Leighton Macdonald; and his sister-in-law, Ester Macdonald; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dr. Richard G. Macdonald 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. Macdonald as an expression of our deepest sympathy.