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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Robert "Bob" Shelton Wilkins of Peoria,
4who passed away on August 29, 2013; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins was born on January 18, 1930, in
6Owensboro, Kentucky, to Dewey E. and Sara (nee Cullen) Wilkins;
7he graduated from Peoria High School, where he was senior class
8president, and from Colorado College with a degree in Economics
9and Banking; while in college, he was a member and Treasurer of
10the Sigma Chi Fraternity and was the Captain and driving force
11behind the formation of the Colorado College Swim Team; he
12served his country in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954
13as an intelligence specialist in Baltimore, Maryland and
14Stuttgart, Germany; he married Marlyn Sitton on June 7, 1958,
15in Peoria; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins received his realtors license in
171958 and worked as a real estate broker and developer for
18nearly 60 years; he was President and owner of Traders Realty
19and was instrumental in the development of over 40 subdivisions
20and thousands of residental home sites; he earned the
21designation of Certified Property Manager and Graduate of Real
22Estate Institute; he received the Distinguished Member Award
23for Community Service, the Industry Achievement Award, and was

 

 

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1the only 2-time recipient of the Realtor of the Year Award, all
2given by the Peoria Area Association of Realtors; he was also
3honored as the Illinois Association of Realtors Distinguished
4Member for Service to the Community and Real Estate Industry;
5his other business endeavors included Inventory Technology,
6Incorporated and Pioneer Park One, Incorporated; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins was involved in numerous real
8estate industry organizations; he was President,
9Vice-President, Secretary, and Director of the Peoria Area
10Association of Realtors, President of the Peoria Area Land
11Developers Association, President of the Central Illinois
12Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management, and
13Chairman of the Illinois Association of Realtors Local
14Government Committee; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins had a passion for the Peoria area
16and gave back to his community in significant ways; he served
17as the Director of Jefferson Trust and Savings, as Director and
18Vice-President of Economic Development for the Peoria Area
19Chamber of Commerce, as member and Chairman of the City of
20Peoria Planning Commission, as Director of the Peoria Junior
21Chamber of Commerce, on the Urban League of Peoria Board of
22Directors, on the Peoria City Beautiful Board of Directors, on
23the Better Business Bureau Board of Directors, and as a charter
24member of Peoria Rotary North; he was a member of the State of

 

 

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1Illinois On-Site Waste Water Management Advisory Board, a
2Proctor Hospital Board Executive Committee member, a First
3Baptist Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and
4Vice-President of the Mount Hawley Country Club Board of
5Governors; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins believed the Boy Scouts were an
7extremely important part of his life; he served as Scoutmaster,
8W.D. Boyce Council President, Executive Committee member,
9Chairman of Sustaining Membership Enrollment, and Chairman of
10the Honor Guard; he was an Eagle Scout and a Silver Beaver
11Award recipient; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins had a great love of the outdoors
13and spent countless hours on his beloved tractors or tinkering
14at his work bench; he enjoyed racing sailboats, playing golf,
15taking annual fishing trips to Canada, and taking his family on
16camping and skiing trips; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins was preceded in death by his
18parents and by his wife of 50 years, Marlyn; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins is survived by his brother, Jack
20(Dawn) Wilkins; his daughters, Nanette (Paul) Weers, Jamie
21(Rick) Yemm, Sara (Mike) O'Brien, and Wendy (Jeff) Kolbus; his
22grandchildren, Rich and Sara Yemm, Bobby, Megan, and Kelly

 

 

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1O'Brien, and Michael and Nick Kolbus; and many friends;
2therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Robert "Bob" Shelton Wilkins, and extend our sincere
6condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
7him; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Robert Wilkins as an expression of
10our deepest sympathy.