SR1435 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1435 LRB098 22477 MST 61398 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Roger W. Ladd, who passed away on July 27, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Roger Ladd was born in Tracy, Minnesota on December 6, 1924 to Raymond and Florence (nee DeMarc) Ladd; he was a veteran of World War II, serving from 1942 to 1946 in the Atlantic and the Pacific theaters as a member of the United States Coast Guard; during his service he was assigned to work with a special British unit in Bermuda to break the code of the "German Wolf Pack" U-boats; and

WHEREAS, Roger Ladd was a resident of McHenry County from 1946 to 1972; his company, Ladd Enterprises merged with the Frank Robino Company of Wilmington, Delaware and went public in 1969; as CEO/COB of the Robino-Ladd Company, over 5,000 residential units were completed under his leadership; he was very active in the home building industry, serving as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice-President of the Home Builders Association of Chicago-Land; he eventually became Director of the Home Builders of Chicago-Land; in 1996, he was elected President of the Home Builders Association of Illinois, and, in 1968, he was elected Vice-President of the National Home Builders Association; in 1969 and 1970, he served as a member of Governor Ogilvie's Illinois Advisory Council; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, Roger Ladd sold his interest in the Robino-Ladd Company and retired to Rivera Beach, Florida, where he and his wife, Anne, owned 2 successful marinas; they traveled often to Italy and the Bahamas; they sold the marinas in 1979 and moved to Grand Junction, Colorado to build homes with their son, Roger R. Ladd; they built 2 very successful communities, The Commons and the Vineyards on the Western Slopes; he and his wife moved to Austin, Texas in 1984 where he formed the Roger Ladd Company with Pat Sewell and son-in-law, Paul Radke; he transitioned to the furniture business with Pat Sewell and sold furniture for the next 26 years; in 2011, Roger and Anne retired to Provident Crossings, a Senior Resort Community; there he enhanced the lives of many residents and employees with homemade cookies, cakes, and his famous Italian Bread; he enjoyed fishing, bridge, and playing golf with his buddies, Charles, Jesse, Ben, David, and others at Star Ranch; he especially looked forward to Spades night with Chuck, Jacque, C.J., Kay, Al, and Kathy; and

WHEREAS, Roger Ladd was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Yvonne Thillman; and the mother of his 6 children, Yvonne "Bonnie" Ladd; and

WHEREAS, Roger Ladd is survived by his brothers, David Ladd (Mini) and Jeffrey Ladd (Kathy); brother-in-law, Ambrose Thillman; his loving wife of 45 years, Anne Ladd; his sons, Stephen (Betty Jane) and Roger R. Ladd (Cheryl); his daughters, Mary Ladd, Debra Radke (Jim Rotti), and Peggy Ladd-Howard (Thadeus); his son, Kevin J. Ladd (Mary); his step-daughter, Deborah Sewell (Pat); 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Roger W. Ladd, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Roger Ladd as an expression of our deepest sympathy.