SR0779 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0779 LRB095 21761 KXB 51974 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Robert Wouters Leyen of Gig Harbor, Washington, who passed away April 14, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Robert Wouters Leyen, aka "Dr. Bob" and "Dr. Avalanche," was born September 29, 1951 in Nashville, Tennessee; Robert was the only son of the late Dr. Robert Fitzwater Leyen and Wilma Wouters Leyen; Robert graduated cum laude from Webb School of Knoxville in 1969, where he was All Mid-South Football and Basketball, as well as a key member of the school's champion track team; he earned his B.A. in Psychology in 1973 from Yale University; and

WHEREAS, As defensive tackle, Robert was All-Ivy for two consecutive years; following graduation he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys; when he was traded to the Detroit Lions, Robert chose to pursue a medical degree from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha in 1977; Robert completed an Internal Medicine Internship at the University of Alabama, Birmingham in 1978; he returned home to East Tennessee to practice Emergency Medicine; and he completed a General Surgery Residency at Duke University, as well as an Orthopedic Surgery Residency and a Sports Medicine Fellowship; and

WHEREAS, Robert and Jennifer Albright were married March 19, 1988 in Maryville, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, He assisted teaching Musculoskeletal Anatomy at the University of Washington Medical School; during this past year he enjoyed working with America's veterans and soldiers at Madigan Army Medical Center, where he volunteered his time through the Red Cross; and

WHEREAS, Robert was a sportsman, an athlete, and a gentleman; following his football career, he played rugby for Old No. 7 RFC in Memphis and the Vulcans RFC in Birmingham; for 30 years he was team physician and player with the Harvard Old Boys Business School Rugby Football Club; he actively competed in 3-Day Equestrian Eventing in Area VII and mentored many young riders; he was an avid duck hunter, belonging to the Washington Waterfowl Association, Wildcat Hollow Duck Club, Ducks Unlimited, and the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club; he enjoyed skiing throughout the world, many times with the Alpha Dog Ski Team; he was a National Outdoor Leadership School and Outward Bound graduate; and much of his free time was spent riding his exceptional horse "Large Marge" and training his Labrador retriever "B"; and

WHEREAS, The Leyens have been an active part of the Gig Harbor United Methodist Church family for nearly 18 years; Robert's Bible readings and singing will be beautifully remembered; Robert was a serious student of Bible Study Fellowship for the past ten years and assisted with teaching the children; he was on the Board of Directors for Reach Ministries; Robert's awe of God's creation was integral to his life as an outdoorsman; and

WHEREAS, Robert will be dearly missed by his beloved wife, Jennifer; his loving daughter, Elizabeth; the Albright family; his cousins, Drs. Erich and Ben Wouters; and by countless close friends, colleagues, and patients; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Dr. Robert Leyen; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Robert Leyen as a symbol of our sympathy.