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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of William Dean "Bill" "Kirbo" Kirby of
4Tolono, who passed away on November 23, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bill Kirby was born in Buffalo Hart to Agnes Opal
6(Duncan) and Arthur Taylor Kirby on July 18, 1920; he attended
7Blackburn College and then graduated from the University of
8Illinois in 1942; after earning his degree, he enlisted in the
9United States Army Air Forces, where he served in the war as a
10medical administration officer in England and rode a pontoon
11plane that traveled back and forth over the English Channel
12picking up survivors; he rose to the rank of second lieutenant;
13he married Norma Jean Schroeder on April 8, 1943; and
 
14    WHEREAS, After the war, Bill Kirby worked for Georgetown
15schools and taught agriculture and biology; during this time,
16he and some of his friends organized the annual Georgetown
17Fair, which was officially recognized by the Illinois
18Department of Agriculture in 1948; after teaching for five
19years, he worked as an agent for County Financial Insurance
20until his retirement in 1985; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Bill Kirby served as mayor of Tolono from 1961
22until 1969 and then as a trustee for eight more years; during

 

 

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1his time with the village, he felt his biggest achievement was
2the establishment of a sanitary sewer system; he was the
3treasurer for the Unit 7 School District for 20 years; he also
4wrote a popular weekly column for The County Star, in which he
5discussed Buffalo, the war, Tolono, and Unit 7; he complied his
6writings into the book, "Buffalo Chips and Tolono Clips" in
72000; in recent years, he served as president of the Tolono
8Historical Society and the Veterans Museum; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Bill Kirby was an active member of the Tolono
10United Methodist Church and the Tolono Lions Club; he was a
11long-term member of the VFW and the American Legion; he was an
12avid fan of Fighting Illini football and basketball and
13attended as many games as he could for as long as he was able;
14he will be remembered for his love for his community; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Bill Kirby was preceded in death by his wife,
16Norma; his son, Richard (Sue); his daughter, Gail; his parents;
17and his five brothers; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Bill Kirby is survived by his sons, Robert
19(Claudia) and Rod (Cathy); his seven grandchildren; and his
20five great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of

 

 

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1William Dean "Bill" "Kirbo" Kirby and extend our sincere
2condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
3him; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Bill Kirby as an expression of our
6deepest sympathy.