HR0762

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Robert 
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J. "Pud" Williams; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Robert Williams was born on June 21, 1926 in 
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Centerville to Robert P. Williams and Mamie  O. (Vaught) 
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Williams; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He attended high school in Carmi and went to 
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college at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and 
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Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Williams served in the United States Navy 
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Seabees and served in Japan during World War II; he married 
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Dorothy Givens in 1952; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was the Illinois Director of 
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Agriculture from 1972-1976; during his service, he reduced the 
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Department from 11 operating departments to 4 and eliminated 
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duplication of services and saved man-hours, dollars, and 
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created improved efficiency; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He worked with handicapped through his wife 
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Dorothy and Roberta Walker to make the State Fairgrounds 
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handicap accessible and was also instrumental in opening a 24 
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hour diagnostic lab at the University of Illinois to be open 
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365 days a year; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He served as Burnt Prairie Township Supervisor in 
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White County from 1958 to 1972; in addition, he served on the 
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Board of Supervisors for White County and was Chairman of the 
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Board at one time; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was instrumental in obtaining the 
 


 






HR0762
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LRB093 21598 KEF 49001 r




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Centerville blacktop to provide rural people easy access to 
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Carmi; he was on the Wabash Valley Interstate Commission which 
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promoted traffic between Indiana and Illinois on the Wabash 
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River; he also served on the Egyptian Health Department Board; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Williams was an entrepreneur and founded and 
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owned Pundrake Petroleum Products in Carmi; he also owned and 
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operated Pud Williams Farms in White County and Williams Grain 
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Co. in Golden Gate; in addition, he developed IAP, Illinois 
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Agriculture Product Trademark, a tool designed to promote and 
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develop markets from Illinois Agriculture; with its logo it 
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gives identity to the State's leading industry which is  
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Agriculture; and

 

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    WHEREAS, The passing of Robert J. "Pud" Williams will be 
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deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Dorothy; his daughter 
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and son-in-law, Nancy and Ray Mitchell; his son and 
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daughter-in-law, Kevin and Eileen Norton-Williams; his two 
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granddaughters, Katherine Grace and Caroline Rose 
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Norton-Williams; and his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and 
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Judy Williams; therefore, be it

 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn the passing of Robert J. "Pud" Williams along with all 
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who knew and loved him and extend our sincere condolences to 
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his family and friends; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Robert J. "Pud" Williams as an 
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expression of our deepest sympathy.