SR0863 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0863 LRB099 13778 MST 37750 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Charles W. "Bill" King of Edwardsville, who passed away on August 5, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Bill King was born in Mt. Carmel on September 27, 1934 to Dorothy (nee Steckler) and Charles Grover King; he spent the first years of his life on his maternal grandparents' farm and then moved with his parents during the World War II years to Nashville, Tennessee; he graduated from Father Ryan High School in Nashville and was then admitted to the University of Notre Dame; he married Jean Marie Kendrick on January 8, 1966 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Normandy, Missouri; and

WHEREAS, Bill King held many jobs in Nashville, including working as a laborer-assistant "dynamite man", blasting rock for sewer construction, and selling souvenirs at the Grand Ole Opry, then held in the Ryman Auditorium, seeing all the great performers of that era and once performing as Tom Sawyer in a playhouse production with the late Mrs. Sarah Cannon, widely known as "Minnie Pearl"; at Notre Dame, he was the Wing Commander of the 300 Unit Air Force ROTC and received an award from the American Legion; he worked his way through Notre Dame, primarily as a promotional writer and member of the production crew at the CBS-TV affiliate in South Bend, WSBT-TV; and

WHEREAS, After graduation from Notre Dame in 1956, Bill King entered flight school in the United States Air Force, graduating from single engine jet pilot training at Webb AFB, Texas in 1957; he was then stationed in Germany, where he flew multiple non-combat missions to all the NATO countries and travelled widely in Europe; and

WHEREAS, Upon his discharge from the Air Force, Bill King worked in St. Louis and then enrolled in St. Louis University Law School, graduating in 1963; he first became a partner in the law firm of Burroughs, Simpson & King in Edwardsville, which later became the firm of Hepler Broom; he went into private practice in 1970, and during his career, he tried over 100 jury cases, representing a diversity of clients, including individuals, physicians, insurance companies, and major corporations; always generous with his time, he often did pro-bono work for his friends, family, and people that fully intended to pay him later; he was also an Assistant Illinois Attorney General and the Edwardsville City Attorney under 4 successive mayors; and

WHEREAS, Bill King's additional community leadership included contributions as Chairman of the Edwardsville Zoning Board, as President and Board Member of the Edwardsville YMCA, and as host of the "Legal Line" local radio program for 10 years; he served with several churches and civic groups; though his accomplishments were many, he was most proud of his family; and

WHEREAS, Bill King and his family travelled to all of the lower 48 contiguous states and most of the Canadian provinces, often with a canoe that he built from a kit strapped precariously to the roof of their car; and

WHEREAS, Bill King was preceded in death by his parents; an infant grandson, Mathew Thomas Arnold; and his sister-in-law, Joan (Kendrick) Pope; and

WHEREAS, Bill King is survived by his wife, Jean; his 3 children, Catherine D. Arnold, Daniel W. King (Suzy Beagen), and Patrick J. King; his 9 grandchildren, Catherine's children, Christopher, John-Patrick, and Cate Arnold; Daniel's children, Katrina, Charlie, Brian, and Colleen King; and Patrick's children, Iris and Rowan King; his sister, M. Suzanne Bires (Jerry); his sisters-in-law, Mary Ann, Jane, and Cheri Kendrick; his brothers-in-law, John and Dan Kendrick and David Pope; his former son-in-law, Rick Arnold; and many dear nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Charles W. "Bill" King, 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 Bill King as an expression of our deepest sympathy.