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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of William S. "Bill" Clayton, Maj. USAF Ret.
4of Rantoul, who passed away on February 11, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was born to Alfred Stafford and
6Elizabeth (Noyes) Clayton on January 22, 1948 and attended
7University High School in Bloomington, Indiana; he earned a
8Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and a master's
9degree in aviation management and a master's degree in
10aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
11University; he attended Air Command and Staff College, USAF Air
12University in Maxwell AFB, Alabama; he married Kathryn Ann
13Davison in 1971; he married Michelle Hosman on February 18,
142001; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton learned to fly when he was in high
16school and loved to say he could fly a plane before he could
17get a driver's license; that love for flying led him to the
18United States Air Force, where he spent 21 years; he flew T-37,
19T38 jets, and UH1, UH2 helicopters for 16 years; his last job
20in the Air Force was "flying a desk" as Chief of Safety at
21Chanute Air Force Base, until he retired in 1992; he then
22became an aviation specialist in 1996 until he was promoted to
23airport manager in 2006; he retired in 2014; he had FAA ratings

 

 

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1in Airplane Multi-engine-limited to Center Thrust, Rotocraft
2Helicopter, Instrument Airplane and BH-204 Helicopter,
3Commercial Pilot, Private Privileges, and Airplane Single
4Engine Land; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was a trustee for the Village of
6Rantoul from 1995 to 1996; he was the Rantoul Area Chamber of
7Commerce Citizen of the Year, which he shared with his wife,
8Michelle, in 2006; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton served as president of the Octave
10Chanute Aerospace Museum Foundation; he and others started the
11museum, gathering items from around the base as Chanute
12prepared to close in 1993; he was a lifetime member of the
13Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum Foundation and a member of the
14board of directors, serving as president and vice president; he
15was a coordinator for the Chanute AFB Alumni Reunion; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was a member of the USAF Helicopter
17Pilot Association; he was past member of the Champaign County
18Balloon National Championship Board of Directors; he was a
19member and past president of the Air Force Association, Chapter
20133; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was a member of the First United
22Methodist Church of Rantoul; he was a past member of the

 

 

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1Rantoul Rotary Club, serving as president from 1996 to 1997; he
2was co-coordinator of the Rantoul Community Bicycle Recycle
3Program from 2001 to 2016; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was preceded in death by his parents;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Bill Clayton is survived by his wife of 16 years,
7Michelle; his daughter, Connie (Joe) Coronado; his sons, Adam
8(Kristin) and Andy (Janet) Clayton; his stepdaughters, Natalie
9(Phillip) Davidson and Nicole (Brian) Churillo; his stepson,
10Nikolaus Matten; his brothers, John (Cynthia) and James
11Clayton; 11 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and five
12nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15William S. "Bill" Clayton, Maj. USAF Ret., and extend our
16sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
17and loved him; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Bill Clayton as an expression of our
20deepest sympathy.