SR0346 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0346 LRB093 14745 KEF 40510 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of David W. Meister, Jr. of Peoria on December 2, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Meister was born on October 9, 1923 in Chicago to David W. Sr. and Lillian M. Kaufman Meister; he married Mary M. MacFarlane on July 6, 1946 in Peoria; she preceded him in death in 1974; he married Diana McElhiney on October 16, 1985, in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Meister received a bachelor's degree from Bradley University, where he was class president, founded the Bradley Invitational Speech Tournament, and was vice president of the Alumni Association; he received Bradley's Distinguished Service Award; and

WHEREAS, He taught speech at Bradley in 1947 and became director of radio in 1948; he was advertising manager of the Daily Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale from 1949 until returning to Bradley in 1951 as publicity director and later as director of public relations; he then was sales promotion director of West Central Broadcasting Co.; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Meister was a World War II Army Air Force Veteran; and

WHEREAS, He provided consulting services to insurance and health-care organizations in Central Illinois since 1991; he was founder and executive vice president of the Mid-State Foundation for Medical Care Inc., founder and former president of ComProCare Inc., and founder and former CEO of the Central Illinois Medical Association; in addition, he served as executive vice president of the Peoria Medical Society for 16 years and of the Tazewell County and McLean County medical societies; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Meister served on the boards of several corporations, including Meister Brothers Inc. and Krantz-Meister Inc., where he was chairman, and Central Trane Air Conditioning Co. Inc., where he was vice president; and

WHEREAS, He received many honors, including being named "Medicine's Man of the Year" for Central Illinois in 1961; he was active in numerous civic and community organizations and served as president of the Visiting Nurse Association, treasurer of Junior Achievement of Central Illinois Inc., and chairman of the Peoria Civil Defense Advisory Council; he served on the boards of the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross, Peoria Area Hospital Council, and the American Association of Medical Society Executives; he was co-chairman of the Statewide Public Health Committee; he was also a member of the Peoria Rotary Club and received numerous professional and honorary memberships; he was an affiliate member of the American Medical Association and was a fellow of the Education and Research Foundation of the Illinois Medical Society; in addition, he was a member of the Sheridan Road Apostolic Christian Church; and

WHEREAS, David Meister's passing will be deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Diana; his three sons, David "Skip" (and Patricia) Meister III, Andrew Slotter, and Mark (and Rebecca) Meister; three brothers, Edward (and Bernie), Walter (and Jean), and Paul (and Rhoda); six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of David W. Meister Jr. along with all who knew and loved him and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of David W. Meister Jr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.