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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois 
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learned with regret of the death of  William "Bill" Bryant of 
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Bethalto on Monday, December 5, 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was born a twin son on July 3, 1927, to Samuel 
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L. and Maude (Burton) Bryant; he married the former Thelma D. 
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(Newell) on October 10, 1949; she preceded him in death on July 
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9, 1999, after almost 50 years of marriage; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He loved his country and his hometown of Bethalto, 
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and he was very civic-minded; he served a short time in 1948 
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with the Illinois National Guard and the National Guard of the 
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United States; he was later honorably discharged to take care 
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of his ailing parents; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1951, he became an employee of Union Electric 
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Co., now known as AmerenCIPS, in the Alton meter department; he 
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retired in 1986 after 35 years of service; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1947, he helped arrange the Cottage Hills 
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Volunteer Fire Department; he served as president, secretary, 
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and treasurer, and was later elected chief for 20 years; in the 
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1950s and 1960s, he was a deputy sheriff for Madison County; he 
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was elected assistant Wood River Township supervisor in 1957 
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and 1961; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He received a 25-year service award from the 
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Department of Law Enforcement from Governor Richard B. Ogilvie; 
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he also received 12 diplomas in firefighting from the 
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University of Illinois; he was elected Democratic precinct 
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committeeman in Cottage Hills 15 and Bethalto 26 for 47 years, 
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and most important to him was becoming a member of the First 
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Baptist Church of Bethalto and serving the Lord Jesus Christ; 
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and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, He wanted to be remembered for his undying love 
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for his family and caring for his fellow man to make the world 
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a better place; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of William "Bill" Bryant has been 
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deeply felt by many, especially his children, John and Rhonda 
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Schilling, Lloyd "BoBo" and Kathy Schilling, William "Mike" and 
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Dianna Bryant, Samuel L. and Nancy Bryant, Mayor Steve A. and 
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Anita Bryant, Rick and Sandra (Bryant) Wieckhorst, and Arvel 
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and Cynthia (Bryant) Beecher; and his 16 grandchildren and many 
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great-grandchildren; he was preceded in death by his parents, 
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his wife, and his granddaughter, Tara L. Bryant, who passed 
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away in 1998; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
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William "Bill" Bryant, who will long be remembered for his many 
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contributions to the people of his area and as an example in 
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public service, and we extend our sincere condolences to his 
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family, friends, and community; and be it further

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