SR0444 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0444 LRB094 12915 CSA 47763 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Leo A. Klier, a Naperville resident since 1968, passed away June 4, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born March 30, 1923, in Washington, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Klier was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving honorably in the South Pacific, and a 1946 graduate of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, where he was a two-time, first team consensus all-American basketball player; he set the single-season scoring record for Notre Dame in 1943-44; and

WHEREAS, Following his record-setting season, he was called to duty and spent a year in the Navy before returning to Notre Dame for his senior year; affectionately referred to as "The Comeback Kid", he once again broke the team's single-season scoring record and was named to the all-American team for a second time; in 1946, he played on the college all-star team that beat the NBL champions at the old Chicago Stadium before a record crowd; and

WHEREAS, He was one of the first of his era to use the one-handed set shot and was lauded for his ability to make a running hook shot with either hand; he was recently voted a member of the Notre Dame All-Century Team as one of the top 25 players in the 100-year basketball history of the school; and

WHEREAS, He went on to play professional basketball in the NBL (now known as the NBA) with the Indianapolis Kautskys (now the Indiana Pacers), where he was named to the All Rookie team in his first year; he was a member of the Kautskys team that won the all-world tournament in 1947, the first NBL world championship; he also later played for the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now the Detroit Pistons) and the Anderson Packers for five years; legendary coach of the University of Kentucky, Adolph Rupp, gave him the nickname "Crystal" - if Leo Klier was in the game, the outcome was "crystal clear"; Leo Klier was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1977; and

WHEREAS, He was a longtime member of St. Raphael Church in Naperville and a 21-year member of the choir; he dedicated his life to his wife and nine children - they were always first with him; he was a humble man reluctant to acknowledge the many honors and awards bestowed upon him; he was a coach and team player in every way, literally and figuratively, and ultimately a man of impeccable integrity; and

WHEREAS, In 1952, he joined Amoco Oil Company as a salesman; during his 27-year career with Amoco, he was in management and training until he retired in 1979; he subsequently went into business for himself and owned a service station and car wash in Evergreen Park; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Pearl Klier, and his eight siblings; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Leo A. Klier is felt by all who knew and loved him, especially his wife of 59 years, Nancy (nee Maynard) Klier, whom he married on May 18, 1946; his children, Peggy (Jerry) DePersia, Marianne Klier, Michael Klier, Janet (Robert) Gihle, Martha (James) Betts, Kevin (Judy) Klier, Carol (Fred) Roth, Daniel (Linnea) Klier, and Timothy (Mindy) Klier; his 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and his many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Leo A. Klier and extend our sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

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