SR0803 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0803 LRB101 15159 MST 64308 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Leland Bishop "Lee" Miller Jr. of Mahomet, who passed away on October 26, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller was born in Bloomington to Leland B. Sr. and Nellie C. (Jolly) Miller on June 17, 1931; he graduated salutatorian in 1949 from University High School in Bloomington; he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller pursued a doctoral thesis at Purdue University in chemical engineering prior to accepting a research engineering position at Exxon in New Jersey; later, he taught management courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Business and the University of Illinois; he was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, Phi Lambda Upsilon, and Sigma Chi at the University of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957 as a first lieutenant in the 501st Army Security Agency stationed in Korea and Fort Devens, Massachusetts; he continued in the Army Reserve until 1962; and

WHEREAS, In 1959, Lee Miller joined the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co., later Staley Continental, as a chemical engineer; he then held other positions, including manager of sweetener manufacturing operations, director of facilities planning, and director of long-range planning and assistant treasurer, before his final position as treasurer and vice president; following his career with Staley, he was elected vice president/chief financial officer of MultiFresh Systems Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller's affiliations included the National Association of Corporate Treasurers, the Planning Executive Institute, the Financial Management Association, the Midwest Planning Association, the American Management Association, the Corporate Finance Council, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Lions Club; he held the positions of vice president of United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois, director of Progress Resources, and president of the Industrial Development Research Council; he was a Mahomet Village Board member and a chairman of the planning and zoning committee; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller was fearless in trying new things regardless of his age; he learned to ski at age 50 and kept skiing until the age of 75; he learned to golf at age 57 and looked forward to the 19th hole regardless of the outcome; his favorite ski and golf spot was Telluride, Colorado, where he and his wife spent many weeks enjoying the slopes and surrounding mountains with family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller was an avid storyteller and enjoyed when someone appreciated his unique sense of humor; he was a voracious reader and had multiple books by his chair at all times; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller was a fan of the Illini and the Chicago Bears, since the Bears franchise was started by A.E. Staley as the Staley Bears; he was a Chicago Bears season ticket holder and attended the home games regularly up until the week prior to his passing; he was happiest when he was spending time with his wife, children, and granddaughters; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Charlotte (Herb) McGrath; his son, Steven Robert Miller; and his niece, Kim McGrath; he was previously married to Elene (Schiermer) Miller; and

WHEREAS, Lee Miller is survived by his wife of 34 years, Alice P. Elder-Miller; his daughter, Susan (Timothy) Fallon; his son, James Bishop Miller; and his granddaughters, Katherine and Elizabeth Fallon; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Leland Bishop "Lee" Miller Jr. 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 Lee Miller as an expression of our deepest sympathy.