SR1011 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1011 LRB101 20450 ECR 70009 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William "Bill" Richard Schnirring of Springfield, who passed away on January 26, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring was born to William Robert and Marion Vernor Schnirring in Springfield on March 1, 1929; he attended Springfield Public Schools, and in his youth, he was an active member of Boy Scout Troop #7; he graduated from Springfield High School in 1946; he met his future wife, Mary Traylor Schnirring, in the third grade while attending Hay-Edwards Elementary School; they were married on September 30, 1950; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business in 1950; he was a member and president of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity; following his graduation, he served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1951 to 1952 and was stationed in Thule, Greenland; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring was Chairman Emeritus of Springfield Electric Supply Company; his formal career there began in 1952 when he joined the family-owned business, which was started by his father, William Robert Schnirring; working beside his father was one of the highlights of his career; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring served the electrical distribution industry in several key roles over the years, culminating with a term as chairman of the National Association of Electrical Distributors in 1979-1980; he was later recognized as one of the recipients of the industry's highest national individual honors, the Arthur W. Hooper Award; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring's love for his community led to his efforts to improve life in Springfield; he was recognized nationally in 1989 as an outstanding volunteer fundraiser and again in 1994 as Outstanding Philanthropist by the National Society of Fundraising Executives; in 1998, he was honored with the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring was active on many boards and committees over the years; his past business and industry work included service on the boards of First National Bank (U.S. Bank) and Springfield Credit Bureau and serving as board chairman of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Development Council of Springfield and Sangamon County, the Memorial Medical Center Foundation, and the Memorial Medical Center Board; he served on the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and helped craft recommendations for legislative and administrative action as a participant in a White House Small Business Conference; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring served many civic, service, and educational organizations; he served as a trustee of Blackburn College, director of the American Business Club, a board member and campaign chairman of the United Way of Central Illinois, a board member and capitol campaign chairman for Contact Ministries, a board member of the Vachel Lindsay Home Association, a member of the Dean's Business Advisory Council at the University of Illinois at Champaign, and a member of the Chancellor's Advisory Council at the University of Illinois-Springfield; he helped to foster the development and growth of small businesses in central Illinois by serving as a counselor for the Springfield chapter of SCORE; he was also a member of the Springfield Parks Foundation, the Springfield Art Association, Illini Country Club, and the Sangamo Club; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring was an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church; he was also a member of the Scottish Rite, the Red Cross of Constantine, the Royal Order of the Jesters, and a past Potentate of the Ansar Shrine; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring received a number of honors, including the Copley Press First Citizen of Springfield Award in 1989 and the Lincoln Academy of Illinois Order of Lincoln in 2012, the State's highest award; he was inducted into the Springfield High School Hall of Fame in 2013, and the auditorium at Springfield High School is named in honor of Bill Schnirring and his wife, Mary Schnirring, for their support of the school throughout the years; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring had a wonderful sense of humor and loved being around people; he was personable and gracious to all he met and was a natural leader and mentor to many throughout his life; he always looked for ways to help others and touched many lives with his generous spirit; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring enjoyed traveling and spending winters in Naples, Florida with his wife, Mary; he especially loved time spent on the Schnirring Farm where he would garden, host parties, and ride his John Deere gator; he was an avid fan of the University of Illinois and Springfield High School; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring was preceded in death by his parents, William Robert and Marion Vernor Schnirring, and his beloved wife, Mary Schnirring, who preceded him in death on January 12, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Bill Schnirring is survived by his two daughters, Kathy (Randy) Germeraad and Carolyn (Dan) Dungan; four grandchildren, Scott (Colleen) Germeraad, Carrie (Nick) Walden, Caitlin (Mark) Simhauser, and Colin Dungan; his five great-grandchildren, Declan Germeraad, Merrin Germeraad, Verity Germeraad, Isla Germeraad, and Nora Simhauser; his sister, Marilyn Kennedy; his nephews, Robert and John Kennedy; his niece, Janice Kennedy Singer; his friend, Don Martin; and all of his colleagues at Springfield Electric; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William "Bill" Richard Schnirring and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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