SR1469 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1469 LRB100 21095 MST 36942 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William S. "Bill" Clayton, Maj. USAF Ret. of Rantoul, who passed away on February 11, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was born to Alfred Stafford and Elizabeth (Noyes) Clayton on January 22, 1948 and attended University High School in Bloomington, Indiana; he earned a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and a master's degree in aviation management and a master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; he attended Air Command and Staff College, USAF Air University in Maxwell AFB, Alabama; he married Kathryn Ann Davison in 1971; he married Michelle Hosman on February 18, 2001; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton learned to fly when he was in high school and loved to say he could fly a plane before he could get a driver's license; that love for flying led him to the United States Air Force, where he spent 21 years; he flew T-37, T38 jets, and UH1, UH2 helicopters for 16 years; his last job in the Air Force was "flying a desk" as Chief of Safety at Chanute Air Force Base, until he retired in 1992; he then became an aviation specialist in 1996 until he was promoted to airport manager in 2006; he retired in 2014; he had FAA ratings in Airplane Multi-engine-limited to Center Thrust, Rotocraft Helicopter, Instrument Airplane and BH-204 Helicopter, Commercial Pilot, Private Privileges, and Airplane Single Engine Land; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was a trustee for the Village of Rantoul from 1995 to 1996; he was the Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, which he shared with his wife, Michelle, in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton served as president of the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum Foundation; he and others started the museum, gathering items from around the base as Chanute prepared to close in 1993; he was a lifetime member of the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum Foundation and a member of the board of directors, serving as president and vice president; he was a coordinator for the Chanute AFB Alumni Reunion; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was a member of the USAF Helicopter Pilot Association; he was past member of the Champaign County Balloon National Championship Board of Directors; he was a member and past president of the Air Force Association, Chapter 133; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Rantoul; he was a past member of the Rantoul Rotary Club, serving as president from 1996 to 1997; he was co-coordinator of the Rantoul Community Bicycle Recycle Program from 2001 to 2016; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Bill Clayton is survived by his wife of 16 years, Michelle; his daughter, Connie (Joe) Coronado; his sons, Adam (Kristin) and Andy (Janet) Clayton; his stepdaughters, Natalie (Phillip) Davidson and Nicole (Brian) Churillo; his stepson, Nikolaus Matten; his brothers, John (Cynthia) and James Clayton; 11 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and five nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William S. "Bill" Clayton, Maj. USAF Ret., 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 Bill Clayton as an expression of our deepest sympathy.