SR0698 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0698 LRB103 36812 LAW 66923 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Meinert, who passed away on December 30, 2023; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert was born in White Cloud, Michigan on August 11, 1927; he began working at age 12, contributing financial support to his mother, baby twin sisters, and brother through a variety of jobs, including ranch hand, grocery clerk, typesetter, and clothing salesman; he graduated high school as valedictorian at age 16 and received a scholarship to the University of Michigan; he was drafted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1945 to 1946; he concluded his studies at Northwestern University in 1949, earning his Bachelor of Science and his certified public accountant (CPA) license; he was drafted again and served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1955 to 1958; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert's notable professional accomplishments started in 1950 at premier clothing retailer Hart Schaffner & Marx, later known as the Hartmarx Corporation, where he moved up the ranks over 40 years to become chairman of the board; he became chairman emeritus in 1990; he then started a new 22-year career as a principal at J.H. Chapman Group LLC, a Chicago investment banking firm, retiring as chairman in 2012 at age 85; he also worked as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert contributed to the accounting profession in a number of ways; he educated accounting students at Northwestern University and served as a faculty member at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management; he served as president of the Illinois CPA Society, serving two terms on the board of directors, and on numerous committees with the American Institute of CPAs, where he ultimately served as vice president; he also wrote a column in the Journal of Accountancy for many years and was a longtime member of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council of the Financial Accounting Standards Board; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert donated his time to numerous endeavors and volunteer positions, including the Evanston Hospital Board, Northwestern University's John Evans Club, the Better Business Bureau, the Duncan YMCA, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; he served as president and later chairman of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of the USA from 1982 to 1990; he was a trustee of the Amalgamated Insurance Fund and the Rotary International Retirement Fund; he served with the Leadership Circle Advisory Council for Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and chaired the University of Illinois Gies College of Business Advisory Council; he was president of Rotary International, where he insistently advised on the worldwide inclusion of women, before becoming a foundation trustee and an assistant district governor, completing this service in 2000; he later served on the Chicago Council for Foreign Relations and Chicago Sister Cities International; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert accrued many accolades and honors, including the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for Distinguished Service in 1987, the Alumni Merit Award from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1989, and the Public Service Award from the Illinois CPA Society in 1996; in recognition for his wide-ranging civic work, he was named Chicago Humanitarian of the Year by the Five Hospital Foundation in 1995; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert was a member of Community Presbyterian Church, The University Club of Chicago, and the Rolling Green Country Club, all in the Chicago area, until he moved to Davenport, Iowa; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert was a dependable and family-focused person, engendering intense loyalty from others despite his demanding and driven nature; he will be remembered for his brilliance of mind, sheer force of will, spectacular energy, and stewardship; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ruth Joyce Meinert; and

WHEREAS, John Meinert is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth (Scott) Tinsman and Pamela Martin; his sisters, Arlene (Horst) Lichtenberger, Darlene (Tom) Rinehart, and Richard (Dorothy) Reynolds; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Meinert 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 John Meinert as an expression of our deepest sympathy.