SR0654 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0654 LRB102 21960 MST 31083 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of David Samuel Bechtel of Savoy, who passed away on November 9, 2021; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel was born to Sam and Elsie Nixon Bechtel on October 6, 1945; he spent his childhood around the house and on the farm in Eureka; his best friend was his older sister, Doris "Sis" Bechtel Houser, who eventually made him a proud uncle to Woody and Brad Houser; he was actively involved in a number of activities and organizations, including 4-H, FFA, baseball, football, basketball, and church; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel was a platoon sergeant/sergeant first class in the Army National Guard; he served in infantry, transportation, and supply companies in Ft. Polk, Louisiana, Peoria, and Urbana; he served with honor and had a great respect for all those in military service; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel married Ann Davidson in 1970, and they had Daniel David in 1975 and Katherine Ann in 1978; every day of the last 46 years, he worked hard to be sure his children felt unconditionally loved; whether he was teaching his adult son to play baseball, writing letters to his daughter to stop getting into fender benders, or guiding them through their missteps and accolades, he handled his children like he handled everyone else in his life, with respect, love, and compassion; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel began studying agricultural economics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 1963; he was proud to say he held season tickets for 58 straight years to both Illinois football and basketball; while there, he pledged the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity; in 2004, on the centennial anniversary of AGR, he received the honor of being named a Brother of the Century on the national level; during his alumni life before social media flourished, he created a mass email list with hundreds of names from around the country and updated this group with news weekly; his connection to Greek life led him to his first job as dean of fraternity men at the University of Illinois; later in life, he served as his son's fraternity faculty adviser, eventually being awarded the Theta Chi National Fraternity Distinguished Service Award, the highest award given to a non-member; he also guided his daughter and her sisters through Greek life in Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel served the students of his alma mater in a 36-year career, as director of The Career Center and also in roles as acting dean of students and associate and assistant dean of students; he was admitted to his profession's Academy of Fellows Hall of Fame, which recognized his 30-year career as a national leader in the field of college career services and corporate college recruiting; he founded the consortium of Big Ten college career service professionals; his Big Ten colleagues named its annual award the David S. Bechtel Career Educator of the Year in his honor; he also co-founded the national Management Leadership Institute, which has become a frequent stepping stone for professional opportunities and advancement in the field; he was a prolific researcher on college graduate career outcomes and received national awards and grants accordingly; he made numerous professional presentations, authored articles and book chapters, and consulted with businesses and other universities; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel counseled thousands of U of I students and alumni and directed an innovative and comprehensive campus career center that was highly regarded by national peers and was a credit to the university; he initiated the concept of career development for undergraduates, and Illinois was the first in the nation to provide this resource in 1972, now an accepted practice in all 4000-plus colleges and universities in the U.S.; in his later years, he authored The History of Career Services at the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel felt that grandparenthood was the epitome of a life well lived; after Katie and Brian had Alaric Arthur and Amara Christine and when Dan and Jennifer had Veronica Harper and Jack Rollins, he relished being a grandfather; when Dan and Melissa got married, Owen Daniel came into Dave's life, and his grandchild number went from four to five; his greatest joy was attending anything involving his grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel was devoted to the McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation, serving as an elder and its longest tenured foundation board member; he was the church centennial's co-chair and then the church's historian and archivist; he helped oversee the building of the new Presby Hall, a state-of-the-art residence hall next to the church; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel served on the State University Annuitants Association of the U of I as a board member and program chair; he was on the Windsor of Savoy's Resident Advisory Committee and wrote the history of the Windsor of Savoy and served as master of ceremony at its 30th anniversary celebration; his social calendar was filled with lunches and dinners with friends, family events to attend, church activities, and current events club; he played weekly trivia at Windsor for years and joined a Zoom trivia night during the pandemic that introduced him to new lifelong friends; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel's weekly calls with his sister in Iowa were a priority, and he greatly anticipated family gatherings in Iowa City; Woody and Mindy gave him great-nieces and great-nephews, Samantha (Michael), Alinia (Joe), Benjamin, Taylor, and Matthew; Brad and Becky gave him Madison and Brady; being able to be with his family and bask in the glow of their love for each other was the time he treasured most; and

WHEREAS, David Bechtel led with love; a firm handshake, eye contact, and a smile were the most important life skills he taught; he never met a stranger, and people were drawn to him; he will be remembered as a man of loyalty, fairness, and integrity; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of David Samuel Bechtel 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 David Bechtel as an expression of our deepest sympathy.