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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
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learn of the death of Lester H. Miller of Hinsdale, who passed 
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away on February 20, 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lester Miller was born February 3, 1924 in 
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Belleville; he was a standout athlete at Belleville Township 
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High School, winning eight varsity letters in football, 
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basketball, and baseball; he turned down professional offers 
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after high school to attend the University of Illinois in 
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Urbana; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lester Miller enlisted in the United States Army 
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during World War II; he was stationed in Hawaii at the end of 
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the war; after the war he returned to the University of 
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Illinois, earned his degree, and played outfield on the 
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University baseball team, winning Big Ten championships in 1947 
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and 1948; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Miller served as the University of 
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Illinois-Navy Pier's first head baseball coach in 1949; he 
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built the foundation for the current program while he served as 
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coach; he is the team's all-time winningest coach with 509 
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career victories; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, During his time as a coach, his teams amassed 10 
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Chicagoland College Baseball League Championships and six CCBL 
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tournament titles; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was the founder of the UIC Athletic Alumni 
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Club, serving as the president of the organization for more 
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than 20 years; he was elected to the UIC Athletics Hall of Fame 
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in 1991, and in 1999 the baseball field at the University of 
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Illinois-Chicago was renamed Les Miller Field; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Lester Miller was inducted into the Navy Pier Hall 
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of Fame in February 2006; he received the American Association 
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of Baseball Coaches Lefty Gomez Award in 1974 for his 
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outstanding contributions and distinguished service to college 
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baseball; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Lester Miller formed camps and clinics for coaches 
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and umpires; he organized and conducted the University of 
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Illinois-Chicago Baseball Coaching and Umpiring Clinics in 
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1951, recognized as the first baseball clinic for coaches and 
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umpires in the country; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Lester H. Miller is survived by his wife of 60 
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years, Phyllis, nee Kieskalt; his children, Martha (Henry) 
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Sandifer, Judy (Larry) Wedryk, Ellen (Larry) Buege, Gail (Paul) 
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Smith, Nancy (Bob) Heidenreich, Mike (MaryAnn), Janet (Rich) 
 


 






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Deinert, and Jeanne Anderko (Burt Siegel); his 17 
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grandchildren; and his 11 great-grandchildren; therefore, be 
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it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Lester H. Miller; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Lester H. Miller as a symbol of our 
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sympathy.