SR0376 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0376 LRB103 32941 LAW 62745 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Roy C. Roberts, who passed away on June 15, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts was born to Clarence and Marietta Roberts in Beardstown on February 1, 1922; he graduated from Beardstown High School in 1939 and attended Bradley University; he enlisted in the U.S. Army, which sent him to Stanford University and the University of Cincinnati for additional training before he joined the 14th Armored Division in 1943; he served as a tank gunner with the rank of sergeant in battles in France and Germany during World War II; he married Christine Kuhlmann at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 23, 1943; they spent their winters in the Rio Grande Valley near McAllen, Texas for 17 years; in more recent years, they made their home at the Blair House Retirement Home in Normal; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts was instrumental in organizing the Beardstown Park District with the goal of providing a swimming pool for Beardstown; he served as the park district's first board president and later became the first director of Parks and Recreation; during his tenure, he supervised and built a park swimming pool, improved Schmoldt Park, and acquired the property for two neighborhood parks, Kiwanis Park and Elks Park; he facilitated the purchase of land for the construction of the Beardstown Airport and the Beardstown Marina; along with others, he started Little League Baseball in Beardstown; he raised funds, planned, and supervised the joint construction of the Schewe Community Center/Illinois National Guard Armory; he retired in 1987 after 33 years of service, and in his honor, a park he built was named the Roy Roberts Park; he served as a director and vice president of the Illinois Association of Park Districts Board, from which he received an honorary life membership in appreciation for his work in parks and recreation; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts served as a columnist for the Illinoian Star and the Cass County Gazette for over 50 years; he first wrote about sports before later renaming his column Trivia Too, which featured a myriad of stories about his family, friends, items of human interest, and travel; at age 101, he was granted a lifetime membership to the National Association of Newspaper Columnists; he also authored three books, The Life of Thomas Beard, Grandpa, Please Tell Us a Story, and Dear Christine; within these pages, he preserved his hometown's history of the past 200 years, chronicled stories of his childhood and life for his family, and shared the love he held for his wife through the many letters he wrote to her during his military service; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, a charter member of the Beardstown Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Beardstown Lions Club; he served on the Beardstown Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as president of the Beardstown High School Alumni Association, which honored him in 1988 for his dedicated service to youth; he was named the grand marshal of the Beardstown Fall Festival in 1995; he also belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and The American Legion, and he was a member of the 14th Armored Division Organization, where he was elected president in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts continually gave back to the Beardstown community; he solicited the funds for the Houston Memorial Library and actively secured several thousands of dollars for community projects; through his dedication to the community, he preserved spaces for children and families to play, to gather, and to create lifelong memories; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts loved all sports and instilled a love of sports in his grandchildren; recently, he sent racks and basketballs to his great-grandchildren with advice, preserving his coaching techniques for generations to come; he also enjoyed oil painting; he dearly loved his family and friends, and he enjoyed initiating and upholding several traditions with them; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Christine; his brothers, Mylo G. Roberts and Dale E. Roberts; his sister, Jane Deckenbach; and step-granddaughter, Tracy Chelette; and

WHEREAS, Roy Roberts is survived by his children, Ann (Jess) Chelette, Don C. (Cathy) Roberts, Sue (Richard) Walker, and Chris (Keith) Mason; his grandchildren, Laura (John) Hawkins, Amy (Chris) Wood, Heidi (Matt) Cardinal, Angela (Ryan) Wolterstorff, Jessica (Andy) Moots, Jill (Andrew) Gaskell, Kate (Steve) Szczudlo, Joel (Sara) Walker, Kevin (Michelle) Mason, and Claire Mason (fiancé, John Busse); 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Roy C. Roberts and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Roy Roberts as an expression of our deepest sympathy.