SR1295 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1295 LRB099 15638 MST 39931 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Carl "Bud" Schmitt of East Peoria, who passed away on November 27, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was born in East Peoria on October 10, 1925 to Carl J. and Elizabeth Hulse Schmitt; he graduated from East Peoria Community High School in 1943; after briefly working at Caterpillar, Inc. as a stenciler, he enlisted in the United States Navy in October of 1943 after his 18th birthday; he trained at Naval Station Great Lakes and served on the South Pacific front both in Hawaii and Guam before moving to Washington, D.C., as a teletype technician (electrician's mate third class) who broke codes during World War II until 1946; he was decorated with the Victory Medal, the America Area Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal; he married Gretchen Hefner in Peoria on February 9, 1952; and

WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt returned from service in 1946 and opened a Texaco gas station in East Peoria while attending Eureka College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education; he graduated from Bradley University with a master's degree and additional hours in business administration; he was the assessor for Fon du Lac Township from 1948 to 1952; during his long career with East Peoria Elementary School District 86 starting in 1964, he was a teacher, principal, and business administrator; he retired in 1992 as the associate superintendent; and

WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was actively involved with the East Peoria Rotary Club, the Salvation Army, and the Salvation Army Tree of Lights Campaign; he was a Fon du Lac Park District Commissioner for over 50 years, was on the District 86 Foundation Board, was the District 86 School Board Secretary, and was a member of the Illinois Association of Park Districts for over 45 years, the East Peoria Riverfront Development Commission, the Fon du Lac Library Board, the East Peoria Historical Committee, the Illinois Regional Board of Superintendents, and the Illinois Regional School Board of Trustees; he was named Citizen of the Year in 1991 in East Peoria; after riding over 25,000 miles of trails, the span of river trail in East Peoria was renamed the Carl "Bud" Schmitt River Trail on July 18, 2011; and

WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was also a life-long parishioner of St. Monica's Catholic Church in East Peoria; he was an avid Notre Dame fan and had attended games since the 1940s; and

WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt was preceded in death by his wife, Gretchen, and his brother, Albert Schmitt; and

WHEREAS, Carl Schmitt is survived by his children, Monika (Andy) Tonsor, Lettie Schmitt, and Ara Schmitt; his sister, Frances "Sis" (Ray) Geier; and his 3 grandchildren, Elizabeth Tonsor, Timothy Tonsor, and Joseph Schmitt; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Carl "Bud" Schmitt, 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 Carl Schmitt as an expression of our deepest sympathy.