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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of a man who
4 was a well-known and respected part of State Capitol life,
5 William "Bill" Foster of Springfield, who passed away on July
6 10, 2008; and
 
7     WHEREAS, William "Bill" Foster was born April 27, 1948, in
8 Springfield, the son of Merrill and Olive Schell Foster; he
9 married Linda Robinson on January 21, 1984, in Herrin; he
10 graduated from Springfield High School and received his
11 bachelor's degree in political science from Denison
12 University, and his master's degree in public administration
13 from the University of Illinois at Springfield; and
 
14     WHEREAS, He held various State government positions,
15 including director of the House Democratic appropriations
16 staff and deputy comptroller; in 1987, he founded the
17 government relations firm William S. Foster & Associates and
18 was co-founder and co-owner of the original Boone's Saloon; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Bill was active in community affairs, having
20 served on the Capitol Township Board of Trustees, the
21 Springfield Park Board, the board of the Springfield Airport
22 Authority, and the board of the Springfield Sports Hall of

 

 

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1 Fame; he was a founding member of the Capital Area Sports
2 Commission and assistant treasurer of the Illinois Association
3 of Park Districts from 1979 to 1983; he coached youth
4 basketball and soccer for 10 years and served as official
5 scorer for Sacred Heart-Griffin girls basketball and
6 volleyball from 2000 to 2004; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He served as LPGA State Farm Classic tournament
8 chairman from 1989 to 1990, vice president of the LPGA State
9 Farm Classic board of directors in 1991, president of the LPGA
10 State Farm Classic board of directors in 1992, and chairman of
11 the LPGA State Farm Classic board of directors from 1994 to
12 2001; from 1996 to 2001, he served in the LPGA Tournament
13 Sponsors Association in various capacities; he was known fondly
14 as "Foz" during his time with the Classic; the floating
15 scoreboard on the 18th green at Panther Creek Country Club,
16 where the Classic will be held starting on July 17, 2008, was
17 christened the S.S. William F. Foster on July 11, 2008 in his
18 honor; and
 
19     WHEREAS, He was a life member and past president of the
20 American Business Club; and he was an accomplished writer and
21 published several articles and booklets for the Taxpayer's
22 Federation of Illinois; and
 
23     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; Bill

 

 

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1 Foster is survived by his wife, Linda; his daughters, Shannon
2 (husband, Wes) Woodruff and Jennifer Foster; his son,
3 Christopher Foster; his grandson, Jack Woodruff; his sister,
4 Phyllis (husband, Scott) Baecker; his nephews, Bill and Mike
5 Baecker; his two aunts, and his three cousins; therefore, be it
 
6     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8 mourn the loss of Bill Foster and extend our sincere
9 condolences at this time; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to the family of Bill Foster as a symbol of our
12 sympathy.