SR0536 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0536 LRB096 15634 KXB 30869 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William D. Pierce of Highland, who passed away on October 30, 2009; and

WHEREAS, William D. Pierce was born January 27, 1934, in Carlinville, the son of Lloyd C. and Helen E. nee Davidson Pierce; he grew up in Greenville and was a graduate of Greenville High School; on November 13, 1965, he married Peggy J. Bess; and

WHEREAS, He began working for the Illinois State Police on July 8, 1957 and was made Captain on November 30, 1982; he retired as the Deputy Superintendent of Field Operations December 31, 1985 with over 29 years of service; he was appointed Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police in Highland in early 1986 and served for some 12 years; he was named Interim Chief of Police for Collinsville from September of 2003 to June 25, 2004 and returned to Highland and again served as Interim Chief of Police; he was appointed Interim City Manager of Highland in 2005 for six months; and

WHEREAS, He received the East-West Gateway Council of Governments 2007 Lifetime Public Service Award in November of 2007; he was the Parade Magazine Police Officer of the Year in the 1970s; he also received the Bob Hardy Citizen of the Year Award from the Highland Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, He was a member of the Highland Rotary Club and Paul Harris Fellow Recipient, the Highland Optimist Club, former President of the Highland Area Community Foundation, a 20-year member and Past President of the Highland Chamber of Commerce; he was also a member of the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd C. Pierce; his mother, Helen E. (nee Davidson) Pierce; his wife, Peggy Jean (nee Bess) Pierce; and his first wife, Marilyn J. Pierce Hockett, nee Nau; and

WHEREAS, William D. Pierce is survived by his daughter, Barbara A. (Danny) Tally; his son, Richard D. "Rick" (Cindy) Pierce; his brother, Robert F. (Sylvia) Pierce; his grandchildren, Brandon M. (Jill) Tally, Brooke D. (Matt) Lewis, Nathan S. Pierce, and Jessica R. Pierce; his great-grandchildren, Brodan M. Lewis and Brielle A. Lewis; his Maltachon dog, Ruby; his mother-in-law, Maxine E. Bess Camp (nee Mitchelle); his brothers-in-law, Leonard H. (Audrey) Bess and Danny L. Bess; his sisters-in-law, Donna G. Frazier, Shirley Y. Ridenhour, Linda L. (Anthony) Vesci, Carol S. (John) Hasty, and Patricia A. (Randy) Lamb; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of William D. Pierce; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William D. Pierce as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.