HR0589 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0589 LRB096 14202 KXB 28998 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Melvin D. Patton of Columbia, who passed away on August 17, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Melvin Patton was born May 2, 1942, in Belleville; and

WHEREAS, He starred in two sports, basketball and baseball, at Belleville Township High School, played one year at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1962; while playing in the Mon-Clair league, he was a two time batting champion (.489 in 1969 and .359 in 1971), and led championship teams at Valmeyer, and became a charter member of the Mon-Clair Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, He obtained a Bachelor's degree in business administration at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and a law degree from St. Louis University; and

WHEREAS, He was a teacher at Wirth Junior High in Cahokia, and at Collinsville High School, which led to a position as director of business services at Florissant Valley Community College; from 1985 to 1998, he was vice president of Business and Finance at Fontbonne College in St. Louis, and then became director of the Sunset Hills (Missouri) Campus of Vatterott College; and

WHEREAS, He served as the public address announcer during the annual Valmeyer 4th of July Classic; and he was also a member of the Greater St. Louis amateur Baseball Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Jonelia, nee Becherer, Patton; and

WHEREAS, He is survived by his wife, Candace I., nee Wilson, Patton; his daughter, Kim (Tedd) Bacott; his sons, Deron Patton and J.D. (Tara) Patton; his grandchildren, Ryan, Caitlin, Ashley, J.T., Emma, Brittni, Kaitlyn, Kadence, Beau, and Berlyn; and his brother, Larry; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Melvin Patton; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Melvin D. Patton as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.