SR0541 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0541 LRB098 13677 MST 48203 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert "Bob" Shelton Wilkins of Peoria, who passed away on August 29, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins was born on January 18, 1930, in Owensboro, Kentucky, to Dewey E. and Sara (nee Cullen) Wilkins; he graduated from Peoria High School, where he was senior class president, and from Colorado College with a degree in Economics and Banking; while in college, he was a member and Treasurer of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and was the Captain and driving force behind the formation of the Colorado College Swim Team; he served his country in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954 as an intelligence specialist in Baltimore, Maryland and Stuttgart, Germany; he married Marlyn Sitton on June 7, 1958, in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins received his realtors license in 1958 and worked as a real estate broker and developer for nearly 60 years; he was President and owner of Traders Realty and was instrumental in the development of over 40 subdivisions and thousands of residental home sites; he earned the designation of Certified Property Manager and Graduate of Real Estate Institute; he received the Distinguished Member Award for Community Service, the Industry Achievement Award, and was the only 2-time recipient of the Realtor of the Year Award, all given by the Peoria Area Association of Realtors; he was also honored as the Illinois Association of Realtors Distinguished Member for Service to the Community and Real Estate Industry; his other business endeavors included Inventory Technology, Incorporated and Pioneer Park One, Incorporated; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins was involved in numerous real estate industry organizations; he was President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Director of the Peoria Area Association of Realtors, President of the Peoria Area Land Developers Association, President of the Central Illinois Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management, and Chairman of the Illinois Association of Realtors Local Government Committee; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins had a passion for the Peoria area and gave back to his community in significant ways; he served as the Director of Jefferson Trust and Savings, as Director and Vice-President of Economic Development for the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, as member and Chairman of the City of Peoria Planning Commission, as Director of the Peoria Junior Chamber of Commerce, on the Urban League of Peoria Board of Directors, on the Peoria City Beautiful Board of Directors, on the Better Business Bureau Board of Directors, and as a charter member of Peoria Rotary North; he was a member of the State of Illinois On-Site Waste Water Management Advisory Board, a Proctor Hospital Board Executive Committee member, a First Baptist Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Vice-President of the Mount Hawley Country Club Board of Governors; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins believed the Boy Scouts were an extremely important part of his life; he served as Scoutmaster, W.D. Boyce Council President, Executive Committee member, Chairman of Sustaining Membership Enrollment, and Chairman of the Honor Guard; he was an Eagle Scout and a Silver Beaver Award recipient; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins had a great love of the outdoors and spent countless hours on his beloved tractors or tinkering at his work bench; he enjoyed racing sailboats, playing golf, taking annual fishing trips to Canada, and taking his family on camping and skiing trips; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife of 50 years, Marlyn; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wilkins is survived by his brother, Jack (Dawn) Wilkins; his daughters, Nanette (Paul) Weers, Jamie (Rick) Yemm, Sara (Mike) O'Brien, and Wendy (Jeff) Kolbus; his grandchildren, Rich and Sara Yemm, Bobby, Megan, and Kelly O'Brien, and Michael and Nick Kolbus; and many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Robert "Bob" Shelton Wilkins, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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