SR0010 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0010 LRB097 06052 KXB 46125 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Leslie H. Kenyon of East Peoria, who passed away on January 14, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born October 13, 1922, in Peoria to Camilla Myers and Fred Kenyon; he married Theo Jean Ahrends on October 23, 1954, in Peoria; he was a graduate of Peoria High School and the University of Michigan, where he earned his degree in architecture; and

WHEREAS, During World War II he served in the United States Army, first in a camouflage unit, and following engineering training at State College, Pennsylvania, he was stationed in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, As past president of the Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation, he worked to save Peoria's heritage, starting with the restoration of the Grand Army of the Republic Hall on Hamilton Boulevard; as president of Peoria City Beautiful in the 1960s, he led the petition drives to create the plaza for the new Peoria County Courthouse, instead of a parking lot, and also brought national speakers to talk on preservation; and

WHEREAS, As an architect, he restored the Peoria City Hall, but also designed buildings, including Peoria Players Theatre and the Constance Hall addition at Bradley University; in Eureka, he restored the original Eureka College Chapel attended by students in the 19th century; in addition to historic preservation, his firm also has designed schools in the region, churches, commercial businesses, and other structures; the firm will continue under the Kenyon name; and

WHEREAS, Leslie Kenyon is survived by his wife, Theo; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Leslie Kenyon; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Leslie Kenyon as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.