HR0472 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0472 LRB101 12940 ALS 61776 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Julius W. Hegeler II of Danville, who passed away on July 5, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Julius Hegeler II was born in Danville to Madelle and Edward C. Hegeler II on May 9, 1928; he had two siblings, Edward and Madelle; he graduated from Danville High School in 1946; after attending the University of Illinois and serving in the Army National Guard for three years, he earned a business degree from Millikin University in 1950; he then enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he was a decorated fighter pilot and flew 70 missions in the Korean War as a first lieutenant; he married Bobette Steely in 1956, and she preceded him in death; they had three children, Alix, Harlin, and Madelle; and

WHEREAS, Julius Hegeler II returned to Danville in 1955 and, along with his brother Edward and partners Harry and Robert Peterson, built what would become Peterson-Puritan Inc., a chemical packaging company and one of Vermilion County's largest employers; the company was sold to Corn Products Co. in 1966, but he remained a vice president until his retirement in 1978; and

WHEREAS, Julius Hegeler II was the second person to serve as president of the Vermilion County Museum Board, a position he held from July 1967 until June 1970; during his time as president, he focused on developing youth programs and, along with others, agreed that the museum should be free to children to help develop their interest in history; he was president when the museum developed its accession policy; according to museum Director Sue Richter, "he helped put the museum on a solid footing"; and

WHEREAS, In 1992, Julius Hegeler II placed 90 percent of his fortune into the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation, in part to restore the stately mansion where he grew up and turn it into a museum; and

WHEREAS, Julius Hegeler II was the first donor to the Danville Public School Foundation; his initial gift of $1 million in 2013 prompted the creation of the Public School Foundation's Julius W. Hegeler II Legacy Circle; in 2016, he bequeathed $1 million to benefit generations of Danville schoolchildren for years to come; and

WHEREAS, Julius Hegeler II donated $5 million in planned gifts to Danville Area Community College; in 2011, his foundation funded a new, state-of-the-art greenhouse; in 2013, he arranged for a planned gift of $3 million to build the 10,000-square-foot Julius W. Hegeler II Advanced Technology Center, which was dedicated in 2014; in addition, he pledged to donate $100,000 each year to fund the interest payment on the $3 million bond issuance for the project; in 2016, the college's ornamental horticulture building was renamed for him after his foundation funded a renovation of the building's interior and design labs, as well as the grounds; in 2017, after the college acquired the old Carnegie Library from the Veterans Affairs, he bequeathed $2 million for future renovations; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, Julius Hegeler II gave a $3 million planned gift to WorkSource Enterprises, which provides services for those with disabilities, for a new vocational center; in 2017, he bequeathed $3 million to the David S. Palmer Arena for new ice machinery and other improvements, including a new ice center entrance; he bequeathed $3 million to Presence United Samaritans Medical Center to rename the cancer center after his wife, Bobette Steely Hegeler; he also funded improvements to the restrooms and the 60-year-old gymnasium at the Laura Lee Fellowship House, as well as the installation of a new scoreboard at Danville Stadium; and

WHEREAS, Julius Hegeler II was the title sponsor of Balloons Over Vermilion, now in its fourth year; recently, he provided funds to renovate the Fithian home and the Lamon House, along with the Fischer Theater in downtown Danville; and

WHEREAS, Julius Hegeler II made it his mission to help his hometown, and his philanthropy was limitless; his generosity also benefited the Danville AMBUCS, the Vermilion County Conservation District, the Danville Family YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Danville, the Danville Area Community College Foundation, WorkSource Enterprises, the Danville Public Library Foundation, the United Way of Danville Area, the Laura Lee Fellowship House, the Vermilion County War Museum, and the Vermilion County Airport Authority; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Julius W. Hegeler II 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 Julius Hegeler II as an expression of our deepest sympathy.