HR0122 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0122 LRB097 10955 GRL 51556 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Robert G. Klein for being designated as the 2011 Citizen of the Year by the City of Darien; and

WHEREAS, Robert Klein married Sylvia Genelle Beatty on December 31, 1964; together, they had two sons, Robert Jason and Justin Glenn; and

WHEREAS, Robert Klein attended Elgin Academy from 1950 to 1954 and Knox College in Galesburg from 1954 to 1956; and

WHEREAS, Robert Klein served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the United States Air Force; after enlisting in 1956, he immediately entered navigator training as an Aviation Cadet; he was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant Reserve Officer and received his Navigator Wings in 1958; the following year, he entered Electronics Countermeasures School at Biloxi, Mississippi and received his second set of Wings; from 1959 to 1963, he flew as an Electronics Countermeasures Officer on B-52F's at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas; in 1964, he was promoted to Captain, finished his pilot training, and received his Pilot Wings; in 1965, he was assigned to the 1371st Photo Mapping Wing, which took him all around the world as an Instructor Pilot Aircraft Commander on Lockheed C-130A aircraft from 1965 to 1968; after promotions to the rank of Regular Officer in 1966 and Major in 1968, he resigned his commission in 1969 to work in the family business, Award Emblem Manufacturing Company in Chicago; that same year, he entered the United States Air Force Reserve and flew RC-130's until 1971 at O'Hare International Airport; and

WHEREAS, Robert Klein was employed at TWA as a pilot/flight engineer from 1969 to 1976; he has also served as managing director of Award Emblem Manufacturing Company in Chicago since the passing of his father and brother in 1972; and

WHEREAS, Robert Klein has served as a volunteer with numerous civic and charitable organizations, including Advocate Hinsdale Hospital, the Boy Scouts of America, the Canal Corridor Association, the Carriage Way West Homeowner's Association in Darien, Crime Stoppers of Bolingbrook, the Darien-Woodridge Fire Protection District, the DuPage Fire District Association, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA Board of Directors, the Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, the IPPL Foundation, the Joliet Junior College Foundation, the Joliet Area Historical Museum, Lewis University in Romeoville, the Northern Illinois Fire Protection Districts Board of Directors, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, the Rotary Club of Darien, the University of St. Frances in Joliet, the Will County Center for Economic Development, and the Workforce Investment Board of Will County; and

WHEREAS, Robert Klein has been the recipient of numerous other awards and accolades, including the Ora L. Pelton III Award from the Elgin Academy for being an outstanding male graduate; the Outstanding Electronic Warfare Officer award at Carswell Air Force Base in 1963; the Outstanding Mr. Vice Award at Webb Air Force Base in 1965; the De La Salle Award from Lewis University on October 9, 2003 for extraordinary service and leadership in his community; his induction into the Susan H. Wood Hall of Fame on June 12, 2005 for his support and dedication to Joliet Junior College; and recognition as Co-Chair of the March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction for two years in Bolingbrook on October 25, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Robert Klein serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Robert G. Klein for being designated as the 2011 Citizen of the Year and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Robert Klein as a symbol of our esteem and respect.