SR1215 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1215 LRB098 21301 GRL 59491 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert William "Bob" Lickiss, Sr. of Marquette Heights, who passed away on May 6, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Robert Lickiss, Sr. was born on September 1, 1924 in Percy; his parents were William and Bernice (nee Tudor) Lickiss; he married Colene Saak in 1946 in Chester; and

WHEREAS, Robert Lickiss, Sr. graduated with honors from Southern Illinois University in 1949 and earned his Master's Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Chicago in 1950; and

WHEREAS, Robert Lickiss, Sr. was an award-winning sales representative for the topical law publisher, Commerce Clearing House and CCH Computax, Inc., retiring in 1990 after 30 years of service; after his retirement, he and his wife became investors and travelled extensively; in his early work years, he was a motion picture machine operator for his family's movie theater in Percy and a Borden Dairy Plant foreman in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Robert Lickiss, Sr. served his country with pride as a member of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II from 1943 to 1945 as a B-17 bombardier/navigator; as a lieutenant, he flew missions over Germany, Italy, Austria, and Yugoslavia and was one of the first members of military aviation to be trained in the use of navigational radar; he continued his military career in the Air Force Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the former Peoria Air Reserve Squadron until his retirement in 1972; after retiring, he remained an active member of the Reserve Officers Association, serving on the Board of Directors and as Chapter president in 2001; and

WHEREAS, Robert Lickiss, Sr. served his community as chairman of the Marquette Heights Zoning Board from 1964 to 1978 and served briefly on the Marquette Heights Fire Department during a period of manpower shortage in the 1960s; he was also involved in numerous community projects and improvements; and

WHEREAS, Robert Lickiss, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved step-father, David Cross; and a granddaughter; and

WHEREAS, Robert Lickiss, Sr. is survived by his wife, Colene; 6 children, Pamela Lickiss, Dr. Karen (Scott) Weiss, the Honorable Monica (Stuart) Marlow, Lt. Col. (ret.) Robert (Mary) Lickiss, Jr., Jeff (Vickie) Lickiss, and Sandy (Michael) Isom; 13 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Robert William "Bob" Lickiss, Sr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Robert Lickiss, Sr. as an expression of our sympathy.