SR0999 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0999 LRB102 27363 LAW 39152 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Kenneth E. "Ken" Kolb, Ph.D. of Peoria, who passed away on April 11, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Ken Kolb was born to Frederick and Lillian (Baisch) Kolb in Louisville, Kentucky on January 21, 1928; he attended Louisville Male High School; he enrolled at the University of Louisville in 1945; he married Doris Jean Kasey at the First Unitarian Church in Louisville on September 18, 1948, and she preceded him in death in 2005; alongside Doris, he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Ohio State University in 1953; and

WHEREAS, Ken Kolb and Doris both went to work at Standard Oil of Indiana in Whiting, Indiana after graduation; they moved to Corning, New York in 1957, where he took a research position with Corning Glass while she started the chemistry program at the new Corning Community College; he helped her and became interested in teaching; he took a position at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in 1965, where he taught full time until 1993 and part time until 2003; he served as chairman for two decades before continuing as emeritus faculty; and

WHEREAS, During his career, Ken Kolb authored numerous professional publications, many co-authored with Doris; he was a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin three times; he lectured across the country on "The Many Facets of Glass" and co-authored a book on the subject with Doris; together, they created the Doris and Kenneth Kolb Chemistry Lecture, which has brought world class chemists, including three Nobel Prize winners, to lecture at Bradley University; and

WHEREAS, Ken Kolb was a member of the American Chemical Society since 1949; he also received the Samuel Rothberg Award for Professional Excellence; and

WHEREAS, Ken Kolb loved his family, chemistry, Bradley University, Manhattan cocktails, real theater, art glass, moderately priced wine, meals at Paparazzi with his family, and traveling, especially to London; he was known for correcting people who ended their sentences in prepositions, particularly "at"; and

WHEREAS, Ken Kolb was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, and his son, Ken Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Ken Kolb is survived by his significant other, Jean Jost; his sons, Jerry (Laura) and Ron; his daughter-in-law, Darci; his grandchildren, Timothy Kolb, Caitlin Kolb, Melissa Wilkinson, Marci (Sam) Stitt, Kasey Kolb (Tyler Merritt), Abby (Joe) Kernin, and Ben Heffel; and the person who saved his life and made his final Manhattan, Ben Knuffman-Brewer; 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 Kenneth E. "Ken" Kolb, Ph.D. 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 Ken Kolb as an expression of our deepest sympathy.