SR1050 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1050 LRB098 20713 MST 57923 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James "Keith" Gibson, Sr.; and

WHEREAS, Keith Gibson was born to Orville and Ethel Gibson and was raised in the homestead farmhouse built by his grandfather along Dulton Creek off of the Mississippi River near Huron, Iowa; he studied in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated in a class of 8 students; he had a passion for reading and playing baseball; and

WHEREAS, At the age of 18, Keith Gibson became a well-known, semi-pro baseball player, playing for the Texaco Fire Chiefs; the legendary Babe Ruth made a trip over to Iowa to watch him and his best friend, Roy Swan, play and they both were invited to the Chicago Cubs spring training camp in the spring of 1940; and

WHEREAS, Upon the outbreak of World War II, Keith Gibson and his friend, Roy, put aside their baseball aspirations and joined the United States Navy, with Keith becoming a decorated WWII pilot and the youngest Squadron Patrol Commander in the South Atlantic Fleet; and

WHEREAS, Keith Gibson married Sara "Sally" Wiens on October 19, 1945 while attending the University of Missouri law school; he became an attorney and land developer, developing more than 2000 homes including Aurora's Sans Souci, Beau Ridge, Heritage Green, the Aurora Hilton Inn, and 300 apartment units; later in life, he developed an energy machine hoping to help under privileged countries with better energy sources; and

WHEREAS, On Keith Gibson's 90th birthday - April 9, 2011 - his hometown of Aurora honored him by declaring it "Keith Gibson Day in Aurora", recognizing his many professional and charitable accomplishments, such as serving as President of the Wayside Cross Mission, President of the Aurora Rotary Club, Trustee/Elder of the First Presbyterian Church, being named "Humanitarian of the Year" by the Kiwanis Club, and being a founding board member of the Parkview Christian Academy of Yorkville, as well as a founding member of Aurora Christian Schools, where he served as long-time director of finance and was a loyal Aurora Christian Eagles fan; and

WHEREAS, Keith Gibson and his wife, Sara, had 4 children, Linda (Dudley), Barbara (Neely), Beverly (Aieta), and James, Jr., as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom he loved dearly; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James Keith Gibson, Sr., and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Keith Gibson, Sr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.