SR0758 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0758 LRB103 39174 ECR 69320 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Carr "Bob" Lanphier III of Springfield and of Glen Arbor, Michigan, who passed away on December 30, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lanphier was born to Robert C. Lanphier Jr. and Mary Catherine Lanphier in London, England on November 13, 1932; he attended elementary school at the Highgate School for Boys in London before his parents, who were originally from Springfield, had the family return to the United States in August 1939; he then attended the Arnold School and Butler Grade School in Springfield; he spent one year at Springfield High School before attending The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut; he then spent a post-graduate year at the Harrow School outside London before attending Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where he earned degrees in mathematics, electrical engineering, and industrial administration; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lanphier entered the Manufacturing Training Program at the General Electric Company in 1956 before returning to Springfield and joining the Sangamo Electric Company, a firm founded by his grandfather; he then joined the DICKEY-john Corporation, a start-up company, as chief executive officer in 1967; over the course of his career, the company grew from one employee to over 1,000 employees, making it one of the largest employers in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lanphier was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1992; he served as chairman for a number of business-related organizations, including the Farm and Industrial Equipment Institute, the American Society of Agriculture Engineers, and the Future Farmers of America; he was on the advisory boards of the Colleges of Engineering, Agriculture, and Finance at the University of Illinois; he also served on the board of directors of Memorial Medical Center in Springfield for 28 years, including as chairman; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lanphier enjoyed organizing educational experiences for his grandchildren and visiting them at their respective colleges annually, and he loved spending time at his family home on Glen Lake in Glen Arbor, Michigan; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lanphier was preceded in death by his sisters, Jeanne Lanphier Lawrence and Nancy Lanphier Chapin; and

WHEREAS, Bob Lanphier is survived by his partner, Shelley Walter; his children, Robert C. (Penny Stradal/Linda Hoch) Lanphier IV, Edward Oliver (Cameron McClellan) Lanphier II, Jonathon MacHarg (Laura Rose) Lanphier Sr., and Lillie Margaret (John M.) Hawn; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; his sister, Mary L. (Roger) Collins; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Robert Carr "Bob" Lanphier III 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 Bob Lanphier as an expression of our deepest sympathy.