SR0975 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0975 LRB102 26989 MST 38221 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of George Frederick Wendt, who passed away on September 11, 2021 at the age of 73; and

WHEREAS, George Wendt was born on October 3, 1947; and

WHEREAS, George Wendt was raised in River Forest and attended St. Vincent Ferrer Elementary School and Fenwick High School; and

WHEREAS, George Wendt completed his bachelor's degree program at the University of Minnesota; he also obtained a master's and doctoral degree from Loyola University Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his schooling, George Wendt was a devoted swimmer; he received All-American honors as part of his college swim team; he later participated in the Olympic Trials; and

WHEREAS, In 1969, George Wendt returned to his high school alma mater to teach English and serve as chair of the department; he also taught English and Communications classes at Benedictine University in Lisle; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, at the behest of his mother, George Wendt assumed an active management role in Chicago Metal Manufacturing, which was founded by his grandfather in 1908; this business leadership experience resulted in the creation of a separate company, Chicago Metal Rolled Products (CMRP), and he became the new company's president in 1984; and

WHEREAS, George Wendt's capacity for innovation helped CMRP develop into a major industry competitor; during his tenure, he introduced the processes of Japanese "Lean Manufacturing" and large beam rolling to the company; ultimately, CMRP won a contract to produce the iconic tubing that forms the Trellis, which stands above Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park; and

WHEREAS, George Wendt's passion for competitive swimming was not diminished by his busy work life or age; he broke multiple national and international records in Masters Athletics; he was an all-star competitor in Chicago's Big Shoulders 5k Swim; he earned 1st place in 1993 and 1995 when he was 45 and 47-years-old respectively; and

WHEREAS, George Wendt was inducted into Fenwick High School's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013; and

WHEREAS, George Wendt is survived by his wife of 52 years, Anne; his children, Matthew, Daniel, and Katherine; and his grandchildren, Tyler, Bailey, Emma, Noah, Alexander, Kylie, Abigail, Sophie, and Wyatt; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of George Frederick Wendt 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 George Wendt as an expression of our deepest sympathy.