SR0927 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0927 LRB094 22241 KXB 60924 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Gary Bair of Casa Grande, Arizona, who passed away on December 25, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Gary L. Bair was born May 11, 1946, in Granite City to Ervin M. "Cubby" and Sarah Helen (Stearns) Bair; he married Dorothy Ann "Dot" Schaefer on August 6, 1966, at the First United Methodist Church in Trenton; and

WHEREAS, Gary Bair, a former Edwardsville resident, taught at the Edwardsville Elementary School for 34 years, retiring in May of 2005; he graduated from Wesclin High School in 1964 and earned a Bachelor of science degree and a Master's degree in elementary education from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville; and

WHEREAS, Gary Bair was a United States Army veteran, serving in Vietnam with "Jayhawks" Company "A", 9th Aviation Battalion, 9th Infantry Division as a helicopter crew chief and gunner; he was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Edwardsville, the Phoenix American Legion Post 100, the Edwardsville American Legion, the Edwardsville Lions Club, and the National Education Association, Illinois Education Association, and the Edwardsville Education Association; and

WHEREAS, Gary Bair began a career as a golf coach by first working as a volunteer assistant under coach Dennis Erlich; he then became the girls golf coach, leading them to many State tournaments, and eventually their unbeaten season and first State championship in 2004; after his retirement he enjoyed playing golf as a hobby and established a youth golf program in Casa Grande; and

WHEREAS, Gary Bair is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his son and his wife, Garet and Cori Bair; his daughter and her husband, Kristin and George Frank; his grandchildren; his brothers and sisters, JoAnn Payne and her husband, Ed, Duane Bair and his wife, Linda, Oliver Bair and his wife, Marie, Donald Bair and his wife, Patricia, Bonnie Ellison Bair, and Larry Bair and his wife, Charlotte; his brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Loretta Bair and Rosalie Bair, Pat Schaefer, and William and Michelle Schaefer; he was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Mike Bair and Harold E. "Cubby" Bair; twin brother and sister, John and Jacqlyn Bair in infancy; his sisters-in-law, Suellen Bair and Betty Bair; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rayburn and Margarite Schaefer; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Gary Bair, and express our condolences; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Gary Bair.