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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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were saddened to learn of the death of William J. "Billy" Stone 
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of Germantown Hills on May 16, 2004; and

 
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    WHEREAS, William Stone was born on October 25, 1925, in 
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Springfield to William and Helen Martin Stone, he married Doris 
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I. Richard on July 12, 1946, in San Angelo, Texas; she died on 
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September 20, 1992, in Peoria; he later married Esther B. Kasel 
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on December 31, 1997, in Eureka; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Stone was a World War II Navy veteran, serving 
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2 1/2 years in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Woodworth 
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DD460; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He received a bachelor's degree in 1949 and a 
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master's degree in 1957 from Bradley University, where he 
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participated in track, football, and baseball and received the 
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award of "Outstanding Halfback in the Midwest"; he later played 
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football professionally for six seasons; from 1949 to 1950, he 
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played for the Baltimore Colts, where he received the Rookie of 
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the Year award in the All American Football Conference; he then 
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joined the Chicago Bears under George Halas from 1951 to 1954; 
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as a versatile professional, he scored 31 career touchdowns, 
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and gained 4,283 total yards, rushing, receiving, returning 
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kick-offs, and punts; he also intercepted 11 passes playing 
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defensive halfback; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Retiring from the National Football League in 
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1955, he returned to Bradley to coach the Braves football team 
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from 1955 to 1970; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He served Bradley as an assistant athletic 
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director, intramural director, teacher, department head, and 
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golf coach along with some fund-raising before retiring on May 
 


 






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3, 1984; he received emeritus status at Bradley; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Stone was recognized in 1950 in the Bradley 
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Hall of Fame; he was also a charter member of the Greater 
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Peoria Hall of Fame and the Springfield Hall of Fame; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was a member of the Chief Club, Peoria Elks 
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Lodge 20, and the Alumni B Club; he served for six years as a 
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volunteer at Methodist Medical Center and served as a trustee 
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for the Peoria Park District Board from 1975 to 1978 and from 
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1983 to 1986; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of William Stone will be deeply felt 
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by all who knew and loved him, especially his son, William Jr. 
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(and Francina); his daughter, Laurie (and Ron) Edwards; his 
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three stepsons, Doug Kasel, Greg Kasel, and David Kasel; his 
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three stepdaughters, Melissa Kasel, Susan McMorrow, and Cheryl 
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Davies; his granddaughter; his eight step-grandchildren; and 
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his two great-grandchildren; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in 
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death by one brother; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of 
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William J. "Billy" Stone along with all who knew and loved him 
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and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; 
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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 William J. "Billy" Stone as an 
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expression of our deepest sympathy.