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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Robert Lewis "Bob" Poorman, Ph.D., who
4passed away on April 2, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Poorman was born to Dale Lowell Poorman and
6Bernice Velma (Krick) Poorman in Germantown, Ohio on December
79, 1926; after attending Ohio Wesleyan University and the
8University of Virginia as part of the U.S. Navy's V-12 officer
9training program, he graduated from Ohio State University with
10his Bachelor of Science in Education and his Master of Arts in
11Counseling Psychology; he married Lois Romer in Kansas City,
12Missouri on December 26, 1949; he pursued graduate studies at
13the University of Southern California and eventually graduated
14from University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned
15his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration with a
16concentration in community college and student services; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Along with his wife, Dr. Poorman taught at Center
18High School in the Colorado Rocky Mountains; after serving at
19two community colleges, Phoenix College in Arizona and
20Bakersfield College in California, his career centered on his
2121-year tenure as founding president of Lincoln Land Community
22College in Springfield; there, he established the campus and
23the curriculum and followed the hiring principle of finding

 

 

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1knowledgeable teachers and staff who cared about students and
2who were interested in serving their communities; and
 
3    WHEREAS, After retirement, Dr. Poorman was awarded
4Fulbright Program scholarships to Lithuania, Ukraine, the
5People's Republic of China, and Tanzania, where he contributed
6his vast experience and knowledge regarding community colleges
7and American higher education; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Dr. Poorman and his family traveled extensively
9in the United States, especially enjoying the national parks,
10and he and his wife enjoyed traveling internationally later in
11life; he loved music, had a warm tenor voice, and reveled in
12sing-alongs; he appreciated nature, including tending his own
13garden and watching birds at his many feeders; he
14enthusiastically and possessively claimed ownership of the
15backyard barbecue; he enjoyed chatting with visitors over
16Antiques Roadshow and Shark Tank; he was an avid participant
17in family game nights and his weekly poker games; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Poorman was a man of strong faith and a
19talented storyteller; he will be remembered for being
20respectful, compassionate, and peaceful; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Dr. Poorman was preceded in death by his wife;
22his daughters, Paula (Susan Simmons) Poorman and Jan Poorman;

 

 

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1his parents; and his siblings, Ann, Dale Jr., Jack, and Ray;
2and
 
3    WHEREAS, Dr. Poorman is survived by his children, Rev.
4Mark Poorman, C.S.C., Alex (Susan) Poorman, Lisa (Mark)
5Thomson, and Dan (Deric Absher) Poorman; his grandchildren;
6and his great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9Robert Lewis "Bob" Poorman, Ph.D., and extend our sincere
10condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
11him; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Dr. Poorman as an expression of our
14deepest sympathy.