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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Dr. Richard G. Macdonald of Peoria, who
4passed away on October 31, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was born in Evanston to Dr. Hugh and
6Edith Macdonald on December 31, 1936; he graduated from Peoria
7High School and attended the University of Illinois; he
8graduated from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in
91960 and joined the U.S. Army, becoming the 18th podiatrist
10commissioned in its history; he married Sally Anderson in 1961;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1965, Dr. Macdonald returned to Peoria and
13established a private podiatric practice, specializing in foot
14surgery, diabetic care, and ulcers; during his career, he was a
15clinical instructor with the Department of Family and Community
16Medicine and the University of Illinois College of Medicine
17Peoria; he published numerous articles in his field; he was
18affiliated with OSF Saint Francis Hospital, Methodist
19Hospital, and Proctor Hospital; he was a consultant for the VA
20Out-Patient Clinic and served on the Alumni Board of Directors
21at the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind
22Franklin University; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was a tireless advocate for
2podiatry; he worked to increase its reputation as a
3cost-effective medical and surgical discipline; he led a
4landmark federal case seeking full credentialing; for his
5pioneering work, he was honored in 2011 as Scholl College
6Alumnus of the Year; in 2016, he received the American
7Podiatric Medical Association's Meritorious Service Award for
8his profound impact on the field; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald retired in 2007; he authored two
10books, Inside the gates: The Nazi Concentration Camp at
11Ebensee, Austria, which chronicles the war experience of his
12father, and The Whooping Cough Germ That Became a Hero, a
13children's book illustrating his father's collaborative work
14to develop the first whooping cough vaccine, which is still in
15use today; he lectured on wartime events at public libraries,
16universities, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at
17Bradley University, and military museums; he felt humbled to
18meet camp survivors and veterans of his father's unit; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was a long-time member of the Peoria
20Rotary Club, serving on its board of directors; he also served
21on the Peoria Symphony Orchestra board and was a board member
22in the church of his youth, the Universalist-Unitarian Church
23of Peoria; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was affectionately known as "Dr.
2Mac"; he was a warm and generous presence; he rarely met a
3joke, no matter how inappropriate, that he didn't believe worth
4sharing; he was an avid news junkie and mocker of hubris and
5penned many a blistering letter to the editor; he enjoyed
6traveling; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald was preceded in death by his wife,
8Sally; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Macdonald is survived by his partner of many
10years, Barbara O'Brien; his sons, Richard (Elizabeth Morrison)
11and Philip (Dena); his daughter, Annie; his grandchildren,
12Evelyn Morrison and Leighton Macdonald; and his sister-in-law,
13Ester Macdonald; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16Dr. Richard G. Macdonald and extend our sincere condolences to
17his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Dr. Macdonald as an expression of
21our deepest sympathy.