SJ0037 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0037 LRB103 32366 MST 61771 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to those who have made a difference in their community and the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge of Chester passed away on April 16, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge was born to William H. and Rudelle F. (Fritze) Welge in St. Louis, Missouri on July 11, 1935; he married Mary Alice Childers at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester on August 4, 1962; he served in the U.S. Army; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge and his family created the Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation, one of the largest independent food processing companies in the United States, establishing food processing plants on both sides of the Mississippi River and providing hundreds of good jobs in production, warehousing, and delivery truck driving; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge served as an adviser for the School of Business at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale and Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau; he was also an active Louisiana State University alumnus with the School of Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge established a reputation as a supporter of economic development, serving as a member of the chambers of commerce in Chester and Steeleville, both in Illinois, and Perryville, Missouri; he was also a director for the Buena Vista National Bank; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Chester; he passionately supported the Boy Scouts for more than 40 years and previously served as council president; he served as master of ceremonies for the Fourth of July celebration held on Kaskaskia Island for many years; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Bruce Welge; and his brother-in-law, Wib Saak; and

WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Don Welge was survived by his wife, Mary Alice Welge; his sons, Robert (Paige) Welge and Thomas (Tracy) Welge; his brother, Mike (Betty) Welge; his sister-in-law, Julia Saak; his grandchildren, Austin Welge, Lauren Welge, Jackson Welge, and William Welge; and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; and

WHEREAS, Don Welge worked hard to gain support for the building of a new bridge over the Mississippi River to connect Illinois and Missouri; and

WHEREAS, The Chester Bridge has two 11-foot lanes and carries 7,000 vehicles per day, connecting the cities of Chester and Perryville, Missouri across the Mississippi River along Illinois Route 150 and Missouri Route 51; and

WHEREAS, Plans are underway by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Missouri Department of Transportation to replace the Chester Bridge; and

WHEREAS, Randolph County of Illinois, the Community Foundation of Randolph County, Perry County of Missouri, and the City of Perryville, Missouri have adopted resolutions supporting naming the new Chester Bridge in honor of Don Welge; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the new Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River along Illinois Route 150 and Missouri Route 51 as the "Don Welge Memorial Bridge"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name the "Don Welge Memorial Bridge"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Don Welge, Randolph County of Illinois, the Community Foundation of Randolph County, Perry County of Missouri, the City of Perryville, Missouri, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Secretary of the Missouri Department of Transportation.