HR0332LRB101 12259 MST 59969 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of
4long-time Marion Mayor Robert L. "Bob" Butler, who passed away
5on Monday, April 22, 2019 at a very young 92 years old; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mayor Butler served the City of Marion with
7distinction and honor during his record 54 years and nine
8months as mayor; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Mayor Butler was an energetic and effective
10advocate not only for Marion but for the entire region of
11Southern Illinois; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Mayor Butler served the people of Marion with
13strength, wisdom, and sensitivity through many disasters,
14including the 1982 Marion Tornado that killed 10 and injured
15200 and a disastrous fire in 1997 that burned down the town
16civic center; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In 2007, Mayor Butler opposed the Illinois
18electric rate increase; The New York Times ran a news story on
19this issue featuring him; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Mayor Butler won his 14th election for mayor on

 

 

HR0332- 2 -LRB101 12259 MST 59969 r

1April 7, 2015 with 71.8 percent of the vote in a three-way
2race; on May 5, 2015, he became the longest-serving mayor in
3Illinois history, surpassing the record of his friend and
4fellow Williamson County Mayor, Frank Caliper of Colp, who
5served 52 years from 1935 to 1987; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mayor Butler will be deeply missed by Marion, the
7entire region of Southern Illinois, his children and extended
8family, his many friends, and his loving wife, Louetta;
9therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
11HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we mourn the death and celebrate the life of Marion Mayor
13Robert L. "Bob" Butler, recognize his contributions to the City
14of Marion, and extend our sincere condolences to his family,
15friends and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Mayor Butler and to the City of
18Marion.