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|  |  | SR0386 |  | LRB095 13976 KXB 39789 r |  | 
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| 1 |  | SENATE RESOLUTION
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| 2 |  |     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  | 
| 3 |  | learn of the death of Michael "Mike" L. Eckhard Sr., 87, the  | 
| 4 |  | famous "Golfman" of Alton, who passed away on September 28,  | 
| 5 |  | 2007; and
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| 6 |  |     WHEREAS, Michael L. Eckhard Sr. was born May 29, 1920, in  | 
| 7 |  | Alton to August and Emma (Nolan) Eckhard; he married the former  | 
| 8 |  | Mary Halbert on November 14, 1947, in Alton; and she passed  | 
| 9 |  | away on February 2, 1997; and
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| 10 |  |     WHEREAS, He served his country from 1942 to 1945 during  | 
| 11 |  | World War II, where he received the Bronze Star; and
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| 12 |  |     WHEREAS, He was instrumental in rebuilding a golf course  | 
| 13 |  | while serving in Reims, France; he was a golf caddie during the  | 
| 14 |  | 1920s and 1930s, and was the Alton city golf champion in 1941  | 
| 15 |  | and 1942; he gave golf lessons to the local community, was a  | 
| 16 |  | registered golf professional with the PGA, and played amateur  | 
| 17 |  | and professional-level golf; and
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| 18 |  |     WHEREAS, He owned and operated the Golfman Golf Shop in  | 
| 19 |  | Alton and worked for Laclede Steel for 33 years until retiring  | 
| 20 |  | in 1980 as a master machinist; he was a gallon blood donor with  | 
| 21 |  | Laclede and a member of the Golf Collector's Society and the  | 
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|  |  | SR0386 | - 2 - | LRB095 13976 KXB 39789 r |  | 
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| 1 |  | Greater Alton Retired Caddie's Association; and
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| 2 |  |     WHEREAS, Michael "Mike" L. Eckhard Sr. is survived by his  | 
| 3 |  | children and their spouses, Patricia Eckhard, Michael and Mary  | 
| 4 |  | Eckhard Jr., Rob and Barb Eckhard, Andy Eckhard, Martie and  | 
| 5 |  | Mike Anderson, and Joe Eckhard; his grandchildren, Adam, Amy,  | 
| 6 |  | Gloria, Beth, David, Benjamin, Israel "Alex", and Rachel; his  | 
| 7 |  | step-grandchildren, Ryan, Kyle and Josh; his  | 
| 8 |  | great-grandchildren; his loving sister, Bertha "Birdie" Byron;  | 
| 9 |  | and many nieces and nephews; besides his wife, he was preceded  | 
| 10 |  | in death by his parents; one brother, Nolan; and five sisters,  | 
| 11 |  | Agnes, Florence, Augusta, Virginia, and Josephine; therefore,  | 
| 12 |  | be it
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| 13 |  |     RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL  | 
| 14 |  | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with  | 
| 15 |  | his family and friends, the passing of Michael "Mike" L.  | 
| 16 |  | Eckhard Sr.; and be it further
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| 17 |  |     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be  | 
| 18 |  | presented to the family of Michael L. Eckhard Sr. as a symbol  | 
| 19 |  | of our sincere sympathy.
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