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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Edgar E. "Pete" Nicholls of Decatur, who
4 passed away on June 1, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls was born on June 22, 1923 in his
6 family home at the North End of Sunnyside Road; he was the son
7 of Earl O., a dairy farmer, and Myrtle E. Leonard Nicholls, a
8 homemaker; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls was a veteran of the U.S. Army,
10 serving during World War II; after taking airborne training in
11 1943, he was stationed at Fort Bragg and Camp Mackall in North
12 Carolina; he was also deployed to New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon, and
13 the Philippines; he was the recipient of many decorations for
14 his service, including the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star
15 Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, 2 Bronze
16 Service Stars, 2 Bronze Battle Stars, the Asiatic Pacific
17 Ribbon, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon; during his tour
18 in Luzon, he was badly wounded when he covered a live grenade
19 with his helmet, losing parts of both of his hands and saving
20 the lives of two soldiers; he was honorably discharged from the
21 Army on August 21, 1946; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls was employed as manager of the

 

 

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1 Standard Veterinary Distributing Company for 30 years; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls was well known for his love for his
3 country; in 1991, during the Gulf War, he authored a book
4 titled "Heroes in Our Midst", a compilation of veterans in
5 Macon County from World War I to Operation Desert Storm; in
6 January of 2002, he began a drive to place the Blue Star
7 Service Banners back in the front windows of military veterans;
8 he was also the inspiration that spearheaded the construction
9 of the World War II Memorial to be located in Decatur; he loved
10 the American flag and always had one on display on his person,
11 house, or car; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls was a Life Member of the American
13 Legion Post 105, Disabled American Veterans Post 17, Veterans
14 of Foreign Wars Post 99, and the Military Order of the Purple
15 Heart; he was a Charter Member of the National World War II
16 Memorial; he also served as Commander of American Legion Post
17 105 in 1955 and as the 19th District Commander of the American
18 Legion in 1965; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls loved to play many rounds of golf
20 at Nelson Park and was a life long fan of the Chicago Cubs; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls was preceded in death by his
22 brothers, Mervil, Dean, Herb, and Bob; and his step-son, Mark

 

 

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1 Mull; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls is survived by his loving wife,
3 Betty J.; his sons, Mark, David, Peter, and Tim; his
4 step-daughter, Sue Siburt; his 11 grandchildren and 8
5 great-grandchildren; and his step-brothers, Jack and Roger
6 Zollars; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Edgar Nicholls served as a model of hard work,
8 integrity, and patriotism for the people of the State of
9 Illinois; therefore, be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
11 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
12 his family and friends, the passing of Edgar E. "Pete"
13 Nicholls; and be it further
 
14     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15 presented to the family of Edgar E. "Pete" Nicholls as an
16 expression of our sympathy.