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| | SR1557 | | LRB101 23194 MST 74335 r |
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1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to |
3 | | learn of the death of Taft Rosco Gilliam, who passed away on |
4 | | December 3, 2020; and
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5 | | WHEREAS, Taft Gilliam was born in Bellefonte, Virginia to |
6 | | Marvin Taft and Emma Mae Gilliam (Winston) on November 1, 1937; |
7 | | he graduated from Virginia State University with a Bachelor of |
8 | | Science in Systems Management in 1959; he was a proud member of |
9 | | Omega Psi Phi fraternity; he joined the U.S. Army on April 5, |
10 | | 1960 and married Theola "Pixie" Rainey on May 26, 1962; and
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11 | | WHEREAS, Taft Gilliam spent 27 years in the United States |
12 | | Army, achieving the rank of Colonel; his career took him to |
13 | | numerous other countries, including deployments to Taiwan, |
14 | | Luxembourg, Vietnam, Korea, and West Germany; his domestic |
15 | | assignments included time in California, New Mexico, |
16 | | Wisconsin, Illinois, and Alabama; while serving his country, he |
17 | | earned a Master of Science in Systems Management from the |
18 | | University of Southern California in 1977 and various diplomas |
19 | | from the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Command and |
20 | | General Staff College, and more; he retired from the U.S. Army |
21 | | on August 31, 1987; and
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22 | | WHEREAS, Taft Gilliam received numerous medals and |
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1 | | commendations, including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit |
2 | | Citation with Palm, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam |
3 | | Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense |
4 | | Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Bronze Star |
5 | | Medal with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendation |
6 | | Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army |
7 | | Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with 1st Oak |
8 | | Leaf Cluster, and the Legion of Merit; and |
9 | | WHEREAS, Taft Gilliam's pastimes included golfing, |
10 | | reading, visiting museums, and fussing at the news; he also |
11 | | mastered the art of masonry; upon retirement, he and his wife |
12 | | became the custodians of three of their grandchildren; he will |
13 | | be most remembered for his courage, his integrity, and his love |
14 | | of country; and
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15 | | WHEREAS, Taft Gilliam was preceded in death by his wife of |
16 | | 58 years, Pixie; his parents; and his siblings, Willy Gilliam, |
17 | | Lucy Wells, Frances Procise, Barbara Tucker, Daniel Gilliam, |
18 | | and Abraham Gilliam; and
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19 | | WHEREAS, Taft Gilliam is survived by his children, Michael |
20 | | "MBG" Gilliam, Sean "Flipper" (Michelle) Gilliam, and |
21 | | Christianne "Christi Maria-a-a" Gilliam; his siblings, Helen |
22 | | Dabney, Andrew (Sherry) Gilliam, Haywood (Audrey) Gilliam, |
23 | | Gloria (Herbert) Crossland, and Barry (Shirley) Gilliam; his |
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1 | | sisters-in-law, Dr. Averill Maxine Pritchett and Myrtle |
2 | | Bastien; his grandchildren, Isis Randall, Isaiah Randall, |
3 | | Isadora Randall, Mikayla Gilliam, Aiden Gilliam, and Isabella |
4 | | Lee; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; |
5 | | therefore, be it
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6 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL |
7 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of |
8 | | Taft Rosco Gilliam and extend our sincere condolences to his |
9 | | family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it |
10 | | further
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11 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
12 | | presented to the family of Taft Gilliam as an expression of our |
13 | | deepest sympathy.
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