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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Ronald "Ron" Williamson of Glen Carbon,
4who passed away on May 6, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ron Williamson was born in Wood River to R. Arthur
6and Marcella (Perrottet) Williamson on February 17, 1939; he
7grew up on the family farm in Dorsey and graduated from
8Edwardsville High School in 1956; he married Anita Whited on
9July 19, 1958; he continued his education at Washington
10University, attending school full-time while married with
11children and working full-time; as a student, he was elected
12President of Tau Beta Pi, Vice President of ETA Kappa Nu, and
13Secretary of IEEE; he graduated from Washington University with
14honors with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in
151965; he then earned a Master of Science in Electrical
16Engineering from the Server Institute at Washington University
17in 1967; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Ron Williamson began working for McDonnell
19Aircraft in February 1957; his many accomplishments there
20included being project leader for multiple programs, including
21project engineer for a facility that J.S. McDonnell called the
22"greatest in the free world"; he also worked in the Research
23Department and Phantom Works and served on numerous budgetary,

 

 

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1planning, and union negotiation committees; he retired from
2McDonnell Douglas in February 1994; he then returned to work
3his farms in Dorsey and Gillespie; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Ron Williamson was active in his community and
5coached Little League baseball, church basketball, and YMCA
6soccer; he served the First Presbyterian Church as chair of the
7building and finance committee, elder, and deacon; he also
8served on the YMCA Board of Directors as the first Vice
9President of programs, where he started the YMCA soccer league,
10and the first Vice President of finance, where he started the
11YMCA Century Club; he was Chairman of the Board when the Esic
12YMCA's debt was retired; recently, he was a fund raiser for
13Washington University and was a member of the Eliot Society;
14his numerous awards included the Teammate of Distinction Award,
15the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers Student Award,
16and the NSF Fellowship for graduate school; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Ron Williamson exuded personality; as a father and
18grandfather, he showed the importance of being driven to pursue
19knowledge and excellence; he also showed the endless fun and
20possibility that these traits offered; his personal tool room
21was unforgettable and reminded his grandchildren that life
22should be filled to the brim with curiosities, knowledge, and
23memories; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Ron Williamson was preceded in death by his
2parents and his two brothers-in-law, Wayne Metz and Earl
3Whited; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Ron Williamson is survived by his wife, Anita; his
5children, Rhonda (Dr. Larry) Ketner, Rodney (Kathy)
6Williamson, and Randy (Karen) Williamson; his grandchildren,
7Braden, Ron, Jesse, Emily, Aaron, Christopher, Tara, and
8Kaylynn; his six great-grandchildren; and his sister, Darlene
9(Don) Gusewelle; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
12Ronald "Ron" Williamson and extend our sincere condolences to
13his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
14further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to the family of Ron Williamson as an expression of
17our deepest sympathy.