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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Rep. Robert "Bob" H. Michel of Peoria,
4who passed away on February 17, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was born in Peoria to Charles H. and
6Anna (Baer) Michel on March 2, 1923; he graduated from Peoria
7High School, where he was the President of his class; he
8attended one semester at Bradley University in Peoria prior to
9joining the United States Army during World War II; he landed
10in Normandy on the fourth day of the D-Day invasion of Europe;
11he received two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and four Battle
12Stars; upon returning from the war, he re-enrolled at Bradley
13University and graduated with a degree in business
14administration; he married Corinne Woodruff on December 26,
151948; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel began a career in politics that
17spanned nearly 50 years; he served as the top Republican in the
18United States House of Representatives for 14 years; he led
19Republicans through the administrations of Presidents Ronald
20Reagan and George H.W. Bush and in the years preceding the
21transfer of power in the U.S. House of Representatives from
22Democratic to Republican for the first time in 40 years; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was awarded the Presidential Citizens
2Medal in 1989 from President Reagan and the Medal of Freedom by
3President Bill Clinton in 1994; he received the first
4Congressional Distinguished Service Award in 2000;
5then-President of France, Jacques Chirac, named him to the
6Knights of the Legion of Honor in June of 2004, during the 60th
7anniversary of the Normandy landing; he participated in
8ceremonies marking the anniversary in England and France; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel received many honors and
10recognitions, most notably a bridge spanning the Illinois River
11and a veterans clinic in Peoria are named in his honor; the
12student center at Bradley University and the cloakroom at the
13Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C. are also named after him;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was a Laureate of the Lincoln Academy
16of Illinois; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs;
18he enjoyed golf, music, singing, and gardening; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was preceded in death by his parents;
20a sister; and his wife, Corinne; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Rep. Michel is survived by a sister; his children,

 

 

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1Scott, Bruce, Laurie, and Robin; five grandchildren; and two
2great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Rep. Robert "Bob" H. Michel, and extend our sincere condolences
6to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
7it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Rep. Michel as an expression of our
10deepest sympathy.