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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Alan Guthrie Willis of Bolingbrook, who 
4passed away on October 1, 2011; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Mr. Willis grew up near St. Louis, Missouri, and 
6studied history at Washington University; he obtained a 
7master's degree in American history from the State University 
8of New York and another master's degree in library science from 
9the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, After a brief stint as a welfare case worker, he 
11moved to the Chicago area and worked as a librarian for nearly 
1210 years in Bolingbrook, followed by a position at North 
13Central College's Oesterle Library in Naperville; he later 
14worked for Nichols Library in Naperville, where he met his 
15wife, a fellow employee at the time, and remained there until 
16retirement; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, He co-authored the book, American Suburbs: Rating 
18Guide and Fact Book, in the early 1990s; he collected 78 rpm 
19records, especially those featuring African-American jazz 
20bands of the 1930s, baseball cards, stamps, and classic films; 
21he was an avid birder, researched the history of geography, and 
22played the hammered dulcimer; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, He was very active in the DuPage African Methodist 
2Episcopal Church in Lisle; he was a member of the Brotherhood 
3Men's Ministry and president of both the Chancel Choir and 
4Hospitality Ministry; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, He was also a former precinct captain in 
6Bolingbrook and volunteered to help the homeless with DuPage 
7PADS in Wheaton; one of his proudest accomplishments was 
8working with community leaders in Bolingbrook to mark the 
9observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Alan Willis is survived by his wife, Lakshmi 
11Kapoor Willis; his stepson, Hareesh Kapoor; and his brothers, 
12Wayne and Geoffrey Willis; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
15his family and friends, the passing of Alan Willis; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Alan Willis as a symbol of our 
19sincere sympathy.