SR0230 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0230 LRB097 11951 KXB 55514 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James "Jim" Norman McGill of North Pekin, who passed away on May 5, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born on May 27, 1935, to John Inman McGill and Opal (Mezo) McGill in Tucker's Corner, near the town of McLeansboro, in Hamilton County; he moved to Peoria at age 17, immediately after high school, where he worked at Caterpillar as a shop floor sweeper; he completed his accounting degree by attending night school from 1961 through 1978 at Bradley University under the GI Bill; in 1996, he retired from Caterpillar as an accountant after nearly 44 years of service, rising to the level of plant auditor; and

WHEREAS, Shortly after starting to work at Caterpillar, he was drafted into the United States Army in 1958 and served in the military intelligence department in Germany, receiving an honorable discharge in 1960; while serving his country, he met Elfriede Anna Meiser, whom he married on June 12, 1960; and

WHEREAS, He helped salvage and keep alive North Pekin's Cub Scout Pack 145, from 1967 through May 1972; he served as a coach in various youth baseball organizations, inspired by his life-long love of baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals; he served the Village of North Pekin for 40 years, serving as village treasurer, trustee, and on various committees from 1971 through 2002; he was a past member of UAW Local 974, serving on the election committee, publication committee, chairman of community services committee, and was a delegate to the state AFL-CIO Convention; and

WHEREAS, He was a life and 54-year member of the Empire Lodge No. 126 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Pekin, a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Peoria, and was active and was a past president in its Men's Club for many years; he was a member of the Tazewell County Democratic Club; he was a long serving Democratic precinct committeeman; he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, AMVETS, the National Association of Accountants, and the American Foundrymen's Society; he was an active member of the AARP, a board member of the Friends of Friedrichshafen, and the treasurer for Harmonie; and

WHEREAS, He was an Emeritus Member of the Illinois Society Association of Executives since 2006; he served as executive director of the Illinois Cast Metals Association for many years; he also served on the Tazewell County Board and on the Pekin Township Board; he served as past president of the following organizations: the Illinois Municipal Treasurer's Association (1989-90), the North Pekin Marquette Heights Jaycees, Peoria's German American Society, the Harry S. Truman Club (1973-76), the Illinois Cast Metals Association, and the Caterpillar Retirees Club; and

WHEREAS, He served on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army for 20 years, serving as chair from 1992 to 1995; he served as the head of the Hamilton County Association in central Illinois from 1972 to 2010; he greatly enjoyed visiting with old friends and neighbors from his home county; he and his wife loved to travel to visit family and friends in Germany and spend time on the beach in Florida; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his father, Inman; his mother, Opal; and his sisters, Alice (McGill) Kelso and Glenda Sue McGill; and

WHEREAS, James McGill is survived by his wife; his children, Norman (Sheri) McGill, Monica McGill, and Chris (Julie) McGill; his beloved grandchildren, Sean, Mitch, Ian, Collin, and Miles McGill, Annamaria, Olivia, and Ava Lu, and Nicole and Bradley McGill; his brothers, John (Becky) McGill and Gary (Sue) McGill; his sisters, Judy (Jerry) Prince, JoAnne (Robert) Gray, Grace DaVolt, Mary Ruth Craddock, Dorothy Roberts, and Jane (Bill) Hollis; 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 James McGill; and be it further

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