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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former
4Illinois State Representative and Assistant Minority Leader
5William B. "Bill" Black of Danville, who passed away on
6September 9, 2023; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Bill Black was born in Danville on November 11,
81941; he was raised in a small-business family; he earned a
9bachelor's degree in business administration from William
10Jewell College in Missouri, followed by a master's degree in
11education from the University of Illinois; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Exercising his interest in the Danville
13community, Bill Black became a leader at the Danville Area
14Community College; he was a member of the Vermilion County
15Board from 1976 to 1986, serving as chairman from 1981 to 1983;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, In February 1986, Bill Black was appointed to
18join the Illinois House of Representatives, representing
19Danville and many of its surrounding communities, after his
20predecessor in the Illinois House, Harry "Babe" Woodyard,
21accepted an appointment to the Illinois Senate in 1986; he was
22elected to his first full term in the Illinois House in

 

 

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1November 1986; and
 
2    WHEREAS, As a member of the Republican caucus, Bill Black
3developed an interest and expertise in issues concerning
4community colleges, higher education, mental health, the
5LI-HEAP program of energy assistance for persons with
6challenged incomes, the fight against DUI moving violators,
7and many other programs; he was appointed to committees on
8these issues, serving repeatedly as a spokesperson; and
 
9    WHEREAS, In 1991, Bill Black was named one of the ten
10Outstanding State Legislators in the United States; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Repeatedly demonstrating his knowledge and
12expertise on issues of importance to all members of the
13Illinois House from every region of the State, particularly
14members of the House Republican Caucus, Bill Black became the
15acknowledged floor leader of the Caucus, leading the
16Republican side in many House discussions and debates, with
17the title of House Assistant Minority Leader; and
 
18    WHEREAS, In 2010, when Bill Black announced his plans to
19become a private citizen in the company of his wife Sharon, his
20children, and his grandchildren, his colleagues paid tribute
21to him in an extraordinary display on the Illinois House
22floor, with more than 30 of his colleagues rising, one after

 

 

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1the other, to recount stories of his wisdom and temperament as
2a leader for them all; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Although Bill Black was looking forward to his
4retirement, his community and his state capital gave him a new
5round of duties; he was elected by his neighbors to the
6Danville City Council as an alderman in 2011; he was appointed
7to the Springfield-based Procurement Policy Board in 2013, and
8he joined the Danville Area Community College (DACC) Board of
9Trustees by appointment in 2014; appearing once again on
10Danville-area-wide ballots, he was elected to the DACC Board
11of Trustees in 2015, serving until 2021; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Bill Black was recognized by the Danville Area
13Community College for his continued service with the building
14and naming of the new William B. Black Health Professions
15Center in his honor, with the center constituting a health
16professions hub that offers courses, certifications, and
17training in biomedical engineering, nursing, medical imaging,
18health information technology, emergency medical technology,
19medical assisting, nursing assisting, and phlebotomy; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Bill Black leaves behind a reputation as a giant
21in Illinois politics who was a happy warrior of the political
22battlefield; he will be remembered as a leader who fought for
23his Danville and Vermilion County communities and for all of

 

 

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1the people of Illinois; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Bill Black is survived by his wife, Sharon; his
3daughter, Debra (Scott) Alexander; his son, Doug (DeeDee)
4Black; six grandchildren; his brother, Bob (Jackie) Black; and
5his stepsisters, Denia (Don) Zuch and Cathy Speerly;
6therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
8HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9we mourn the passing of former State Representative and
10Assistant Minority Leader William B. "Bill" Black and extend
11our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
12knew and loved him; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of Bill Black as an expression of our
15deepest sympathy.