SR0553 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0553 LRB096 16617 KXB 31892 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Lyman Shepard of Oak Park, who passed away on December 28, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Lyman Shepard was an internationally known lecturer on Frank Lloyd Wright and other noted Chicago architects; he was born on October 30, 1922 in Oak Park and passed away nearly on the one-year anniversary of the death of his wife, Anna, to whom he had been married for 55 years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Shepard was office manager for Paine Webber in downtown Chicago; after his retirement he began doing slide presentations on Frank Lloyd Wright; he was one of the original founders of the Frank Lloyd Home and Studio Foundation and served on the board; and

WHEREAS, When he gave presentations on Frank Lloyd Wright, Mr. Shepard would enter the room in a cape and special hat, saying, "I am Frank Lloyd Wright and I am the world's greatest architect," then proceed for more than 45 minutes without referring to notes, discussing the most famous buildings Wright had designed; it was a showstopper and he was in great demand for this and lectures on Louis Sullivan and other architects, appearing at clubs, libraries, and architectural organizations as far away as Australia; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife were longtime members of First Baptist Church of Oak Park, where he was an usher and member of the governing board; and

WHEREAS, Lyman Shepard is survived by his son, Drake (Beverly); and his two grandsons, Colton and Grant; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Lyman Shepard; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lyman Shepard as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.