SR0432 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0432 LRB093 21339 KEF 47700 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of Paul Anthony Keller of Jacksonville on February 17, 2004; and

WHEREAS, He was born November 5, 1919, in Bloomington, the son of Dr. Alvin Jerome and Nelle Hughes Keller; he married Dorothy Jane Cobb in 1955 in Jacksonville; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Keller attended Bloomington High School and graduated from St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, in 1939 and attended St. Joseph's College in Indiana for a year; he then worked as a railroad fireman; he entered the United States Marine Corps in 1944, serving with the 26th Regiment of the 5th Marine Division, stationed in Honolulu; he received the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in the Battle of Iwo Jima; he received a bachelor's degree in education from Normal Teachers College (now Illinois State University) in 1949 and a master's degree in education administration in 1950; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Keller became a physical education teacher and basketball and track coach in 1950 at David Prince Junior High School (now Jonathan Turner Junior High), where his basketball teams were 280-64 and his track teams had 14 undefeated seasons, earning three State titles with several individual State champions; he also managed several area swimming pools for 21 years, including Nichols Park, Jacksonville Country Club, and Winchester Public Pool; and

WHEREAS, He served as regional superintendent of schools from 1970 until his retirement in 1993; he coached many athletic teams including Elks, Pony, Colt and American Legion baseball teams, and YMCA softball; he was a starter for many area swim and track meets; in 1988, he was inducted into the Jacksonville High School Sports Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 868, the Routt Catholic High School Athletic Boosters Club, the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, the Morgan County Democrats, the Illinois Education Association, the National Education Association, the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents, and the Jacksonville NAACP; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Paul A. Keller will be deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Dorothy; his four children, Paul Dirk (wife, Iowa) Keller, Charles Christopher (wife, Leigh Ann) Keller, Julia Ellen (husband, John) Mangano, and Lisa Marie Keller; his nine grandchildren; his cousin who was raised in the family home, Emma Hughes Parker; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of Paul A. Keller 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 Paul A. Keller as an expression of our deepest sympathy.