SR1421 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1421 LRB098 22492 GRL 61413 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ernest "Ernie" Bartholomew, Jr. of Arthur, who passed away on August 19, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. was born on August 11, 1932 in Casey; his parents were Ernest Sr. and Flossie Elliott Bartholomew; he married Patricia Beth Ulrey in Casey on September 21, 1954; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. graduated from Casey High School in 1951; he subsequently served his country as a member of the United States Air Force in 1952 until 1956, spending 18 months in Korea during the Korean War; he and his wife then moved to Arthur in 1957; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. was employed by Petro/USI Chemical Company in Tuscola for 35 years until his retirement as supervisor in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. was involved in Douglas County politics and government; he served as a Bourbon Township Trustee and Tax Assessor for over 25 years; he served on the Douglas County Board, having served from 1992 to 2000, including 2 years as board chairman; he was reappointed to the County Board in 2011 and elected to a full 4-year term in 2012; he also served on the Douglas County Sheriff's Department Merit Commission and the Douglas County Crime Stoppers and served as a Republican Precinct Committeeman; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. retired from the Arthur Volunteer Fire Department after 20 years of service; he was a 50-year member of the Arthur Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion and was a current commander; he was also a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, Danville Scottish Rite, Ansar Shrine, and founding member of the Tri-County Shrine Club, the Arthur Lions Club, and the Order of the Eastern Star; he was a member of the Arthur United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where he served on several committees; he also dedicated many years of service to the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair, serving as Superintendent of the horse pulling contest and working on demolition derby and tractor pull, and served as a fair board director from 1984 to 2000; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. was preceded in death by his parents and his sister and brother-in-law, Iwana and Burnell Runkel; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. is survived by his wife, Patricia Beth Bartholomew; 2 sons, David (Gemma) Bartholomew and Mark (Terrie) Bartholomew; 2 grandsons, Zachary and Colten Bartholomew; his step-granddaughter, Eleanor McKee-Volkmer; several nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews; 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 Ernest "Ernie" Bartholomew, Jr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ernest Bartholomew, Jr. as an expression of our sympathy.