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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of William 
4Travis "Bill" Plater, who passed away on August 1, 2014; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, William Plater was born in Vienna on August 10, 
61927 to William Garrett and Ruby K. (nee Travis) Plater; he 
7served in the United States Navy during World War II and in the 
8Army Counter Intelligence Corps during the Korean War; he 
9graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale 
10(SIU) in 1951 and worked for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat as a 
11writer and artist; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, William Plater was best known for portraying the 
13character of "Cactus Pete" for 16 years for WSIL-TV3 in 
14Harrisburg; "Cactus Pete" was a blend of cowboy, prospector, 
15and Gabby Hayes types, who anyone that grew up in southern 
16Illinois or attended SIU during the 1960s and 1970s would 
17remember; he also played "Ruffles the Clown" and "The Cartoon 
18Man" and was emcee of the afternoon variety program, "Studio 
19Show", for WSIL-TV3; he joined the station as an art director 
20when it first went on the air in December of 1953; and
 
21    WHEREAS, William Plater married Susan K. (nee Payne) McGill 
22on December 28, 1991; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Following his time on television, William Plater 
2founded Plater Printing & Trophies, Inc. in Harrisburg and ran 
3it for 18 years; after that, he and his wife established 
4Graphics Galore, Inc. in Marion and operated it for 8 years; in 
5semi-retirement, they started a promotional product business, 
6"The Idea Shop"; and
 
7    WHEREAS, William Plater enjoyed reading newspapers, 
8drawing, painting, gardening, and yard work; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, William Plater was preceded in death by his 
10parents; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, William Plater is survived by his wife, Susan; his 
12daughter, Darci Plater; his son, William Kelly Plater; his 
13step-daughter, Cynthia (Darren) Ward; his step-son, Bryan 
14(Melinda) McGill; 4 step-grandchildren, Jacob Norris and 
15Murphy, Lenox, and Rogan Ward; his sister, Mary Ann (George) 
16Chenoweth; his brother-in-law, Philip (Rosemary) Payne; his 
17niece, Kathy Hefele; and his cousin, Wanda Slack; therefore, be 
18it
  
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
20NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
21we mourn the passing of William Travis "Bill" Plater, and 
 
 
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1extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all 
2who knew and loved him; and be it further
  
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
4presented to  the family of  William Plater as an expression of 
5our deepest sympathy.