SR2265 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2265 LRB099 23544 GRL 51022 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William Patrick "Bill" Myers of Champaign, who passed away on September 30, 2016; and

WHEREAS, William Myers was born on July 27, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska; his parents were Arthur and Esther Myers; and

WHEREAS, William Myers and his family moved to Chicago in the mid-1930s and he helped support his family by shining shoes, selling newspapers, and pedaling a bicycle ice cream cart; during his free time, he enjoyed swimming and playing baseball and "street football"; after his mother died in 1942, he and his siblings went to live in Angel Guardian Orphanage, where he attended school until 1946; he then lived with his aunt and uncle, Ruth and Fred Rueckhardt, while attending Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago and Iowa State Teacher's College (now Northern Iowa University); and

WHEREAS, In 1952, William Myers enlisted in the United States Army, where he served as a mess sergeant and grill cook at the Officer's Club at Fort Leonard Wood; and

WHEREAS, From 1954 to 1956, William Myers attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a bachelor's degree in restaurant management; he later worked in management positions with the Stouffer's Restaurant Corporation in Chicago and New York from 1956 to 1959; he also served as the associate director of housing at the University of Illinois from 1959 to 1966 and as the food service manager of residence halls at Stanford University from 1966 to 1972; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, prior to accepting the job at Stanford University, William Myers and two other men formed Franchise Management Systems, an Arby's Restaurant franchise, in Champaign; as founder, owner, and president of FMS, he was one of the original Arby's franchisees; over the years, the business expanded to include two Champaign-area restaurants, Abigail's and Country Inn, as well as 16 Arby's, three G.D. Ritzy's, and three Daddy-O's Restaurants in Champaign-Urbana, Danville, Bradley, Bourbonnais, Peoria, and Moline, as well as Davenport, Bettendorf, and Muscatine, Iowa; and

WHEREAS, William Myers was well known as a businessman, mentor, and philanthropist until his semi-retirement in 2011, when he became chairman of the board at FMS; after his full retirement in 2015, he continued his philanthropic activities through the William P. Myers Foundation; in 1981, he established the William P. Myers Education Fund to assist Cunningham Children's Home youths with education and job training beyond the high school level; he supported other Cunningham projects, such as participating in the annual Kendall Gill Golf Outing, volunteering for and attending Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations, supporting music and recreational programs, and making a major gift commitment to their $15 million Lighting the Way Capital Campaign; he provided food, funding, and equipment for the Special Olympics; he served as a mentor, counselor, and adviser at L.W.'s Place, a drug and alcohol treatment center in Champaign; he donated his time as a counselor and community advocate for Family Life Skills Learning Center, a faith-based agency that teaches individuals how to stop the cycle of abuse and build a healthy home; he provided food, money, and monthly volunteer staffing for the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in Champaign; he provided educational and job training programs at FMS, which hired individuals with developmental disabilities and worked directly with high school students in School-to-Work programs; he also granted food service scholarships at the University of Illinois, Northern Iowa University, Parkland Community College, and Danville Area Community College; and

WHEREAS, William Myers is survived by his wife, Adele; his children, Nathalie Pearson and Mark (Renee) Myers; his stepchildren, Elizabeth (Andy) Varner, Jane (Trent) England, Mike (Kari) Pankey, and Tim Pankey; and his grandchildren, Jessica Pearson, Kathleen Varner, Michael Varner, Grace Pankey, Kate Pankey, and Joe Pankey; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of William Patrick "Bill" Myers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William Myers as an expression of our sympathy.