SR0209 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0209 LRB102 18033 LAW 24924 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former U.S. Representative Robert T. "Bobby" Schilling of Le Claire, Iowa, who passed away on April 6, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Schilling was born in Rock Island to Francis and Patricia (Kilgore) Schilling on January 23, 1964; he was raised in Rock Island; he graduated from Alleman Catholic High School, where he played football and was named homecoming king; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Schilling worked at MacMillan Bloedel Container Corporation of America, where he served as a union steward in the International Paperworkers Union; he then became an insurance agent and financial planner for Prudential Insurance, where he ranked 525 out of 10,000 agents and served as the treasurer of his local United Food and Commercial Workers Union; he started St. Giuseppe's Heavenly Pizza with his family in 1996, and 25 years later, the family is preparing to open their fourth location in Comanche, Iowa; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Schilling decided to make a long shot bid for U.S. Congress in Illinois' 17th District in 2009; despite the odds, he was successful in his campaign and defeated Congressman Phil Hare by more than 10 points in 2010; he represented the 17th District in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011 to January 3, 2013; and

WHEREAS, As a member of Congress, Rep. Schilling was willing to work across the aisle to meet the needs of his district; he prioritized the rebuilding of the I-74 bridge and even brought Secretary of Transportation under President Barack Obama, Ray LaHood, to inspect the bridge; he worked with Democratic colleagues to secure key provisions to help the Rock Island Arsenal in the National Defense Authorization Act; he also prioritized veterans by introducing legislation that expanded their health care access by allowing them to get care from any hospital in America, not just VA clinics, which eventually became law; he was passionate about the pre-born and supported every piece of pro-life legislation he could; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Schilling was deeply committed to his Catholic faith; he loved his family and dedicated his life to them; he showed love for his family through work and sacrifice, including building two homes from the ground up for his family; he enjoyed taking on challenges and proving his doubters wrong; he loved the United States and felt privileged to be an American; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Schilling was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Schilling is survived by his wife of 35 years, Christie; his children, Terry (Katie), Aaron (Kiki), Levi (Amanda), Joe (Ashley), Isabel (Austin Ryan), Rachel (Kidd Causemaker), Olivia, Sam, Sophia, and Tony; his grandchildren, Grace, Reagan, Bobby, Max, Peter, Gianna, TJ, Daniel, Evelyn, Julia, Hank, Edward, Gus, and Ruth; his siblings, Richard, Michael, Dawn, and William; and three pre-born grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former U.S. Representative Robert T. "Bobby" Schilling 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 Rep. Schilling as an expression of our deepest sympathy.