SR0999LRB102 27363 LAW 39152 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Kenneth E. "Ken" Kolb, Ph.D. of
4Peoria, who passed away on April 11, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ken Kolb was born to Frederick and Lillian
6(Baisch) Kolb in Louisville, Kentucky on January 21, 1928; he
7attended Louisville Male High School; he enrolled at the
8University of Louisville in 1945; he married Doris Jean Kasey
9at the First Unitarian Church in Louisville on September 18,
101948, and she preceded him in death in 2005; alongside Doris,
11he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from The Ohio State
12University in 1953; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Ken Kolb and Doris both went to work at Standard
14Oil of Indiana in Whiting, Indiana after graduation; they
15moved to Corning, New York in 1957, where he took a research
16position with Corning Glass while she started the chemistry
17program at the new Corning Community College; he helped her
18and became interested in teaching; he took a position at
19Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois in 1965, where he
20taught full time until 1993 and part time until 2003; he served
21as chairman for two decades before continuing as emeritus
22faculty; and
 

 

 

SR0999- 2 -LRB102 27363 LAW 39152 r

1    WHEREAS, During his career, Ken Kolb authored numerous
2professional publications, many co-authored with Doris; he was
3a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin three
4times; he lectured across the country on "The Many Facets of
5Glass" and co-authored a book on the subject with Doris;
6together, they created the Doris and Kenneth Kolb Chemistry
7Lecture, which has brought world class chemists, including
8three Nobel Prize winners, to lecture at Bradley University;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Ken Kolb was a member of the American Chemical
11Society since 1949; he also received the Samuel Rothberg Award
12for Professional Excellence; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Ken Kolb loved his family, chemistry, Bradley
14University, Manhattan cocktails, real theater, art glass,
15moderately priced wine, meals at Paparazzi with his family,
16and traveling, especially to London; he was known for
17correcting people who ended their sentences in prepositions,
18particularly "at"; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Ken Kolb was preceded in death by his wife,
20Doris, and his son, Ken Jr.; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Ken Kolb is survived by his significant other,
22Jean Jost; his sons, Jerry (Laura) and Ron; his

 

 

SR0999- 3 -LRB102 27363 LAW 39152 r

1daughter-in-law, Darci; his grandchildren, Timothy Kolb,
2Caitlin Kolb, Melissa Wilkinson, Marci (Sam) Stitt, Kasey Kolb
3(Tyler Merritt), Abby (Joe) Kernin, and Ben Heffel; and the
4person who saved his life and made his final Manhattan, Ben
5Knuffman-Brewer; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Kenneth E. "Ken" Kolb, Ph.D. and extend our sincere
9condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
10him; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Ken Kolb as an expression of our
13deepest sympathy.