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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Robert "Bob" Redfern on
4the occasion of his 100th birthday on July 16, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern was born to Mac and Hazel Redfern in
6Burlington, Iowa on July 16, 1924; he and his family relocated
7to Galesburg, Illinois after his father began working for the
8Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (CB&Q) Railroad; he attended
9school in Galesburg, graduating in 1942; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern handled mail and baggage for the CB&Q
11Railroad at the Galesburg Depot until he joined the U.S. Army
12Air Corps on April 9, 1943, where his duties included working
13with the base engineers through completing survey work and
14building and maintaining airstrips and other base construction
15projects in Burtonwood, England; and
 
16    WHEREAS, After recovering from a serious injury incurred
17in the line of duty, Bob Redfern was honorably discharged at
18Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado on January 24, 1946, although
19he later served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from January 1949
20through October 1952; for his service, he earned the rank of
21private first class and was awarded the American Theater EAME
22Ribbon and the World War II Victory Ribbon; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern joined the Standard Oil Company in
21946, where he worked until October 1955; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern married Audrey Burch on November 29,
41947, and together they had two children, Lindsey and Steve,
5four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern began working for the Galesburg Fire
7Department in November 1955, serving at Central Station for
8seven years before spending the remainder of his career at the
9Brooks Street Station, retiring in July 1979; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern also provided his military experience
11in surveying to Galesburg-based engineering firm Bruner,
12Cooper & Zuck Inc. in various capacities for over 40 years; and
 
13    WHEREAS, After retirement, Bob Redfern and his wife
14enjoyed traveling, especially to Royal Air Force (RAF)
15Burtonwood Airbase reunions celebrated abroad in England and
16Germany and domestically at various air bases in the United
17States; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern is a skilled carpenter who loves
19helping friends with building projects; he is also an
20excellent woodworker who has put his exceptional skills on

 

 

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1display through completing many cabinet and fine wood
2furniture projects; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Bob Redfern is an avid fan of the St. Louis
4Cardinals and the Chicago Bears; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we congratulate Robert "Bob" Redfern on the occasion of his
8100th birthday, and we thank him for his military service to
9the United States; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11delivered to Bob Redfern as a symbol of our esteem and respect.