SR0632 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0632 LRB094 19654 HSS 56069 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of William A. Kleist of Clarendon Hills on Saturday, February 4, 2006; and

WHEREAS, He was born and raised on the South Side and was a graduate of Calumet High School, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, and football; he attended Wilson Junior College in Chicago, and he played baseball with the Chicago Cubs farm team out of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; while at college, he met his wife of 58 years, Margery; and

WHEREAS, In 1943, Mr. Kleist enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and trained to be a fighter pilot with the 8th Fighter Squadron; he flew P-38 fighters and served throughout the Pacific theater during World War II until his military discharge in 1946; and

WHEREAS, After the war, he began working for Chicago-based Swift & Co. in the transportation department; he worked there for nearly 20 years before becoming the co-owner of Richwill Enterprises, a warehousing and refrigeration business for food products; and

WHEREAS, When he retired in 1988, the company Mr. Kleist helped build had grown from four employees to more than 20; he was known for his strong work ethic and extraordinary organizational skills; and

WHEREAS, During his retirement, he attended many high school reunions; he valued the relationships he had formed throughout his life, and he had a sentimental side that he enjoyed sharing with loved ones; and

WHEREAS, The passing of William A. Kleist has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Margery; his daughters, Karen Kleist Miller, Barbara Anderson, and Margaret; his four granddaughters; and his great-grandson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William A. Kleist, and we 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 his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.