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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Elroy Edward "Buck" Hilbert of Union, who
4passed away on August 3, 2016; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert was born on November 16, 1924 in
6Chicago; his parents were Elroy Lawrence and Florence Hilbert;
7he married Elizabeth "Betty" A. Briegel in 1951; she passed
8away in 1960; he married Dorothy E. Steffenhagen in 1961; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert was bitten by the aviation "bug"
10early in his life; at the age of 12, he became a line boy at
11Elmhurst Airport; he made his first solo flight in 1941 at Wood
12Dale Airport; after graduating from Lane Tech High School, he
13joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 and trained as
14an aircraft maintenance specialist; in 1944, he graduated as a
15flight officer and was sent to B-17 training; he was discharged
16in 1946, but was recalled to active duty in 1950 and flew as an
17Army Aviator Liaison Pilot in the Korean War; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert worked in various jobs, including
19crop spraying, flight instruction, Wisconsin Bell, Wisconsin
20Power and Light, and a rural mail carrier before being hired to
21fly for United Airlines in 1952, where he worked for the next
2232 years flying DC-3s, Convairs, Viscounts, DC-6s, DC-7s,

 

 

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1Boeing 707s, Boeing 727s, and finishing his career flying
2DC-8s; and
 
3    WHEREAS, In 1971, Elroy Hilbert and his wife moved to Union
4and turned an old hog farm into an aviator haven known as
5"Hilbert's Funny Farm"; although he earned his living as a
6commercial pilot, his love for history and the preservation of
7early flying machines led him to seek out, restore, and fly
8numerous antique and classic aircraft; in 1976, he participated
9in the restoration of a Swallow biplane and a subsequent public
10relations tour in celebration of United Airlines 50th
11anniversary, flying the original airmail route of the plane all
12over the United States; and
 
13    WHEREAS, As a promoter of general aviation, Elroy Hilbert
14was a member of numerous associations, chapters, and clubs; he
15was a founding member of the Experimental Aircraft Association
16(EAA) and the first president of EAA's Antique and Classic
17Division; he and his wife volunteered annually for the EAA
18Convention (AirVenture) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and for the Sun
19'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert was a Certified Flight Instructor
21and an airframe and power plant mechanic; he authored many
22articles for EAA publications, including a monthly column
23called "Pass it to Buck" for Vintage magazine, and was

 

 

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1frequently asked to speak at flying clubs events and other
2aviation organizations; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert was recognized for his many
4contributions to the aviation world throughout his life and
5holds a place in both the Illinois Aviation and the EAA Hall of
6Fame; he was also honored as an Elder Statesman for the
7National Aeronautical Association; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert was a regular contributor to the
9McHenry County Historical Society, the Illinois Railway
10Museum, and other organizations that work to preserve and share
11local history; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert was preceded in death by his first
13wife, Elizabeth; his second wife, Dorothy; his parents; and his
14siblings, Dianne Buckles and Frank Hilbert; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Elroy Hilbert is survived by his children, Bob
16(Diane), Christine, Alice (Tom) Taylor, Elroy E. (Laurie), Lee
17(Corinn), and Leslie; his grandchildren, Heidi, Robert,
18Matthew, Sierra, Tim, Luke, Whitman, and Benjamin; his
19great-grandchildren, Kyle and Nicholas; many cousins, nieces,
20and nephews; his cat; and many friends and honorary children;
21therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
3family and friends, mourn the passing of Elroy Edward "Buck"
4Hilbert; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Elroy Hilbert as an expression of
7our sympathy.