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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of William Joseph Durka, who passed away on 
4May 12, 2013; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, William Durka was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to 
6Anthony and Mary Durka; he was raised in Waukegan and attended 
7Waukegan Township High School, graduating in 1939 as the 
8valedictorian of his class; he went to the University of 
9Chicago, earning his bachelors of arts in 1943 and his juris 
10doctor in 1944; he was an honor scholar and student marshal at 
11the University of Chicago, debate coach, editor of the law 
12review, elected to the Order of the Coif, and first in his 
13class; he served 2 years as research assistant to the 
14university president Robert M. Hutchins; he joined the U.S. 
15Navy to give talks in the Chicago area on how the home front 
16could aid the war effort during World War II; he married 
17Margaret Reichardt in 1950; she passed away in 1978 and he 
18married Nancy Weaver in 1981; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, William Durka began his law career in 1944 with 
20James Lawrence Fly, who had started a New York firm 
21specializing in communications law; he became a full partner in 
225 years; in 1956, he joined the General Electric Company, 
23retiring as the manager of G.E.'s International Trade Policy 
 
 
SR0343- 2 -LRB098 12306 MST 46570 r

1Operation; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, A highlight of William Durka's life was a 2-hour 
3meeting in June 1947 with Albert Einstein at his Princeton 
4home; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, William Durka was an avid reader and enjoyed 
6books, libraries, and discussing theories and ideas with 
7others; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, William Durka is survived by his wife, Nancy; his 
9daughter, Peggy; his stepdaughter, Phoebe Trachtenberg and her 
10husband, Gordon, and their 2 children, and many nieces and 
11nephews; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
14William Durka, and extend our sincere condolences to his 
15family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of William Durka as an expression of 
19our deepest sympathy.