SR0224 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0224 LRB095 12313 KXB 36935 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Wilson H. West of Belleville, who passed away on May 21, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Wilson H. West was born September 13, 1913, in Odin; and

WHEREAS, Dr. West was a member of the Signal Hill United Methodist Church, Gothic Lodge #852 A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite of Southern Illinois, the Knights Templar, and the Ainad Shrine; he was also a member of the St. Clair County Medical Society and served as its president in 1971; Dr. West also served on the Board of Directors of the Union Bank of St. Clair County for 25 years; and

WHEREAS, He was an active member and leader in the Republican Party and was viewed by many as the foremost authority on the Republican Party in Southwestern Illinois; he served as Chairman of the St. Clair County Republican Century Club for more than 25 years, was elected as a delegate at seven Republican National Conventions, and was an Elector in the Electoral College for three presidential elections; he was very active in local, State, and national politics and hosted prominent politicians at St. Clair County events, including Former President George H. W. Bush, Dennis Hastert, the late Everett Dirksen, Howard Baker, Jay Rockefeller, and many others; many Illinois politicians attended events at his invitation, including former Treasurer Judy Barr-Topinka and former Governors Ryan, Edgar, Thompson, and Ogilvie; he was proud to have attended the inaugurations of many Presidents and Governors and was a frequent guest at the Governor's Mansion and the White House; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Southern Illinois Teachers College (now Southern Illinois University at Carbondale) in 1933, Dr. West pursued his M.D. at Saint Louis University School of Medicine; he graduated in 1937 and practiced general medicine and surgery in East St. Louis for 45 years before moving his medical practice to Belleville, where he practiced until his retirement in 1997; and

WHEREAS, Dr. West served on the board of Centreville (now Touchette Regional Hospital) for forty years; he also served as Chief of Staff at Centerville, Christian Welfare, and Saint Mary's hospitals at various times during his career; Dr. West wrote for medical research journals and was a professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and Barnes Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Dr. West is the namesake and past recipient of the St. Clair County Medical Society's Wilson H. West Award for service in the health care profession; Dr. West was honored as an "outstanding alumnus" by the St. Louis University School of Medicine; in 1966, Dr. West received the Everett Dirksen Award and subsequently established a Nursing Scholarship with the same organization; in 2002, Dr. West was awarded the prestigious Eisenhower Commission; he was awarded lifetime membership on the Republican National Committee, the honorary organization the Republican Speaker's Circle, and the President's Club; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 58 years, Sarah Mildred (Ingram) West, his parents, William and Clara West and his two siblings, Georgia Purvis and Margaret West; and

WHEREAS, Dr. West is survived by his only son, John West; his grandchildren, Kimberly Caslin, Mardi West, John West Jr., Sarah West, and Jason West; and his great-grandchildren, Claire Allread, Ryan Caslin, Melissa West, John West III, and Noah Caslin; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, colleagues, and people whose lives he touched through the years, the passing of Dr. Wilson West; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Wilson West as a symbol of our sympathy.