SR0779 LRB095 21761 KXB 51974 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Dr. Robert Wouters Leyen of Gig Harbor,
4 Washington, who passed away April 14, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Robert Wouters Leyen, aka "Dr. Bob" and "Dr.
6 Avalanche," was born September 29, 1951 in Nashville,
7 Tennessee; Robert was the only son of the late Dr. Robert
8 Fitzwater Leyen and Wilma Wouters Leyen; Robert graduated cum
9 laude from Webb School of Knoxville in 1969, where he was All
10 Mid-South Football and Basketball, as well as a key member of
11 the school's champion track team; he earned his B.A. in
12 Psychology in 1973 from Yale University; and
 
13     WHEREAS, As defensive tackle, Robert was All-Ivy for two
14 consecutive years; following graduation he was drafted by the
15 Dallas Cowboys; when he was traded to the Detroit Lions, Robert
16 chose to pursue a medical degree from The University of
17 Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, graduating Alpha
18 Omega Alpha in 1977; Robert completed an Internal Medicine
19 Internship at the University of Alabama, Birmingham in 1978; he
20 returned home to East Tennessee to practice Emergency Medicine;
21 and he completed a General Surgery Residency at Duke
22 University, as well as an Orthopedic Surgery Residency and a
23 Sports Medicine Fellowship; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Robert and Jennifer Albright were married March
2 19, 1988 in Maryville, Tennessee; and
 
3     WHEREAS, He assisted teaching Musculoskeletal Anatomy at
4 the University of Washington Medical School; during this past
5 year he enjoyed working with America's veterans and soldiers at
6 Madigan Army Medical Center, where he volunteered his time
7 through the Red Cross; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Robert was a sportsman, an athlete, and a
9 gentleman; following his football career, he played rugby for
10 Old No. 7 RFC in Memphis and the Vulcans RFC in Birmingham; for
11 30 years he was team physician and player with the Harvard Old
12 Boys Business School Rugby Football Club; he actively competed
13 in 3-Day Equestrian Eventing in Area VII and mentored many
14 young riders; he was an avid duck hunter, belonging to the
15 Washington Waterfowl Association, Wildcat Hollow Duck Club,
16 Ducks Unlimited, and the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club; he enjoyed
17 skiing throughout the world, many times with the Alpha Dog Ski
18 Team; he was a National Outdoor Leadership School and Outward
19 Bound graduate; and much of his free time was spent riding his
20 exceptional horse "Large Marge" and training his Labrador
21 retriever "B"; and
 
22     WHEREAS, The Leyens have been an active part of the Gig

 

 

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1 Harbor United Methodist Church family for nearly 18 years;
2 Robert's Bible readings and singing will be beautifully
3 remembered; Robert was a serious student of Bible Study
4 Fellowship for the past ten years and assisted with teaching
5 the children; he was on the Board of Directors for Reach
6 Ministries; Robert's awe of God's creation was integral to his
7 life as an outdoorsman; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Robert will be dearly missed by his beloved wife,
9 Jennifer; his loving daughter, Elizabeth; the Albright family;
10 his cousins, Drs. Erich and Ben Wouters; and by countless close
11 friends, colleagues, and patients; therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
13 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
14 his family and friends, the passing of Dr. Robert Leyen; and be
15 it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to the family of Dr. Robert Leyen as a symbol of our
18 sympathy.