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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS,
The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
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learn of the death of Gary Bair of Casa Grande, Arizona, who 
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passed away on December 25, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gary L. Bair was born May 11, 1946, in Granite 
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City to Ervin M. "Cubby" and Sarah Helen (Stearns) Bair; he 
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married Dorothy Ann "Dot" Schaefer on August 6, 1966, at the 
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First United Methodist Church in Trenton; and 
 
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    WHEREAS, Gary Bair, a former Edwardsville resident, taught 
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at the Edwardsville Elementary School for 34 years, retiring in 
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May of 2005; he graduated from Wesclin High School in 1964 and 
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earned a Bachelor of science degree and a Master's degree in 
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elementary education from Southern Illinois University in 
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Edwardsville; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gary  Bair was a United States Army veteran, 
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serving in Vietnam with "Jayhawks" Company "A", 9th Aviation 
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Battalion, 9th Infantry Division as a helicopter crew chief and 
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gunner; he was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church 
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in Edwardsville, the Phoenix American Legion Post 100, the 
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Edwardsville American Legion, the Edwardsville Lions Club, and 
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the National Education Association, Illinois Education 
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Association,  and the Edwardsville Education Association; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gary Bair began a career as a golf coach by first 
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working as a volunteer assistant under coach Dennis Erlich; he 
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then became  the girls golf coach, leading them to many State 
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tournaments, and eventually  their unbeaten season and first 
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State championship in 2004; after his retirement he enjoyed 
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playing golf as a hobby and established a youth golf program in 
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Casa Grande; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Gary Bair is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his 
 


 






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son and his wife, Garet and Cori Bair; his daughter and her 
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husband, Kristin and George Frank; his  grandchildren; his 
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brothers and sisters, JoAnn Payne and her husband, Ed, Duane 
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Bair and his wife, Linda, Oliver Bair and his wife, Marie,  
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Donald Bair and his wife, Patricia, Bonnie Ellison Bair, and 
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Larry Bair and his wife, Charlotte; his brother-in-law and 
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sisters-in-law, Loretta Bair and Rosalie Bair, Pat Schaefer, 
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and William and Michelle Schaefer;
he was preceded in death by 
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his parents; his brothers, Mike Bair and Harold E. "Cubby" 
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Bair; twin brother and sister, John and Jacqlyn Bair in 
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infancy; his sisters-in-law, Suellen Bair and Betty Bair; and 
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his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rayburn and Margarite 
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Schaefer; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Gary Bair, and express 
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our condolences; 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 Gary Bair.