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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 Robert M. Coombs of Winfield, who passed 
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away on September 21, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Robert M. Coombs was born September 30, 1919, in 
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Belleville, Kansas; he was a scholar and athlete in high 
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school, earning a football scholarship to Washburn University 
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in Kansas, where he played defensive tackle; he met and later 
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married Margaret Wolter at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in 
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Chicago in 1942; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Coombs was elected as an alderman of the 
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Batavia City Council in 1952, serving for several years; he was 
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a member of the Fraternal Order of the Moose, Batavia Chapter, 
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and held every office, including Governor; he also played Santa 
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Claus at Mooseheart, "The Child City," a home for orphans, 
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where he appeared every Christmas for 32 years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The family moved to Winfield in 1956, where Mr. 
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Coombs enjoyed serving at annual pancake breakfasts and 
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spaghetti dinners at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church; he 
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and his wife Margaret were also church leaders for the 
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Christian Family Movement and were instrumental in 
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establishing Winfield's first public library; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Mr. Coombs was appointed chairman of the Zoning 
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Board of Appeals and was later elected Mayor of Winfield for 
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two consecutive terms; he was asked a second time to chair the 
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Zoning Board of Appeals following his years as the village's 
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mayor; in 1988, he and Margaret were selected as Grand Marshals 
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in the parade for Winfield's Centennial Good Ole Days 
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celebration; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1981, following the murder of their youngest 
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son, Christopher, Mr. Coombs and his wife initiated the First 
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Illinois Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children (POMC), so 
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that other families in Illinois would have somewhere to turn; 
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they were appointed to Illinois Attorney General Neil F. 
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Hartigan's Task Force on Victims of Crime and played an 
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important role in the passage of the first Illinois bill for 
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victims' rights; they also received an award from Chicago Mayor 
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Richard M. Daley for their work for victims of crime, and were 
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the first recipients of the Lisa M. Hullinger Award from the 
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National POMC Chapter for their efforts on behalf of families; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Coombs spent his professional career as an 
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executive in the transportation industry, specializing in 
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labor relations; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Mr. Coombs was preceded in death by his wife, 
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Margaret, youngest son, Christopher, and an older brother, 
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Ralph; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Robert M. Coombs is survived by his daughters, 
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Carolyn (Ed) Wines and MaryEllen Coombs; his sons, Robert 
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Coombs, and Ralph (Kathryn) Coombs; his grandchildren, 
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Christine (Christopher) Bourseau, Patricia (James) Bockeloh, 
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Matthew (Jennifer) Wines, Christopher (Jennifer) Coombs, 
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Christy Coombs, and Sarah Coombs; his great-grandchildren, 
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Jason, Brandon and Chelsea Jung, Kolten and Brayden Wines, 
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Jamisyn Bockeloh, and Piper and Autumn Bourseau; and his 
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sister, Betty (Lyle) Siple; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH 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 Robert M. Coombs; and be 
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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 M. Coombs as a symbol of our 
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sympathy.