SR0353 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0353 LRB096 13253 GRL 27915 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Kenneth Gill of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, who passed away on June 1, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Gill was born in O'Fallon; he served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Gill received his bachelor's degree from Illinois College, his master's degree from the University of Illinois, and his doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Gill had a long and distinguished career in education at Wheeling Township Elementary District 21; he began his career in District 21 in 1959, when the district had only 3 schools and 1,100 students; at the time of Mr. Gill's retirement in 1980, there were 17 schools and 6,600 students in the district; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure in District 21, Kenneth Gill was instrumental in the growth and prosperity of the school district; influenced by his blind mother, he was instrumental in starting a Braille program for blind students in the district; he helped start a special education program and a before and after-school day care program; his biggest challenge, however, was in 1968, when he took on busloads of John Birch Society supporters and many in his own community when he defended teaching sex education in the district; despite threats from his opponents to take the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court, he stood firm and kept the program; and

WHEREAS, In November of 1980, the District 21 school board named the district's administration center "The Kenneth F. Gill Administration Building" in honor of Kenneth Gill's many years of dedicated service; and

WHEREAS, Kenneth Gill is survived by his wife, Margaret; his daughter, Diane Sawyer; his son, Michael; and his 4 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Kenneth Gill; and be it further

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