SR1523 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1523 LRB098 22961 MST 61920 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Kenneth Epperson of Macomb, who passed away on October 2, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Epperson was born in Hume on October 1, 1924 to Homer Lee and Sylvia Elliott Epperson; he graduated from Newman High School in 1942 and received his Bachelors of Science in Education in 1946 and his Masters of Science in Education in 1952, both from Western Illinois University; during his undergraduate years, he earned varsity letters in football, basketball, and track; he was the State pole vault and high jump champion, and took second place in the long jump; he served as president of Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity and the Interfraternity Council and was chosen as Campus Personality and Homecoming King; in between completing his 2 degrees, he served in the United States Air Force from 1946 to 1947; he married Lorraine Barnhart on April 15, 1949 at the First Christian Church in Blandinsville; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Epperson was an industrial arts teacher and coach at Greenfield High School from 1947 to 1948, an industrial arts teacher and basketball coach at Macomb High School from 1948 to 1952, principal at Blandinsville High School from 1952 to 1954, and superintendent of the Northwestern School District (now West Prairie School District) for 5 years; from 1959 to 1961, he was with the Office of the Illinois Superintendent of Public Instruction as assistant director in the Division of Special Education; he started his 22-year career with Western Illinois University (WIU) in 1961, first as an admissions counselor in charge of High School Relations; he was selected to head the Illinois Association of College Admissions Counselors in 1966; he also completed his doctorate in higher education administration at Indiana University in 1969; in the 1970s and early 1980s, he served as WIU's Director of University/Community College Relations and as president of the Illinois Community College Association; he retired from WIU in 1983; after his retirement, he joined his wife in real estate; they launched Century 21 Purdum-Epperson in 1990, and it became a leading agency in Western Illinois; during his business career, he received several production awards and was named Macomb Realtor of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Epperson's community leadership was evident in many ways; he was president of the State Universities Retirement System at WIU and served as a Spoon River College trustee for 12 years; he was also the chairman of the McDonough County United Way for several years, on the Wesley Village Retirement Center Executive Board, and served on the Macomb Planning Commission; he was a 50-year member of both the local Masonic Lodge and Macomb Kiwanis Club and held memberships in the Macomb Country Club, the American Legion, the First Presbyterian Church (where he was a trustee), and the McDonough District Hospital Golden Apple Society; he also served as chair of the board for the Blandinsville Christian Church and the First Christian Church in Macomb; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Epperson was a follower of WIU athletics; he served as president of the WIU Leatherneck Club and was named to the WIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995; he also served on the WIU Performing Arts Board and received the WIU Alumni Achievement Award in 1987; he and his wife gifted a large amount to WIU's fundraising campaign; they were awarded the Isaac and Ethel Leighty Community Award given by the McDonough County United Way; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Epperson was a talented woodcarver and sculptor; he carved the first Western Illinois University seal in 1974 in celebration of WIU's 75th anniversary; he carved a number of smaller WIU seals as presentation gifts for retiring administrators and faculty members; he also designed and carved the Western Illinois University mace, which is carried and used at every commencement and at special academic events; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Epperson enjoyed golfing, dancing, and playing bridge, and was also devoted to the Eppersons' Sheltie dogs, Skipper I, II, and III; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Epperson is survived by his wife, Lorraine; nephew, Paul (Christine) Epperson; sister-in-law, Roberta Epperson; and cousins, Sue Goetz, Steve Williams, and Bob Williams; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Dr. Kenneth Epperson, 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 Dr. Kenneth Epperson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.