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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Robert
4Avery Weaver of Peoria, who passed away on July 4, 2014; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Weaver was born on August 25, 1923 in
6Fisher; his parents were Avery and Lena Weaver; and
 
7    WHEREAS, At the age of 12, Robert Weaver borrowed money to
8purchase his first Angus heifer; in 1942, he moved to Peoria
9County to farm the Robin's Nest Farm; while in Peoria, he met
10his wife at the Ann Street Mennonite Church; he and his wife
11later attended the First United Methodist Church of Peoria; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1948, Robert Weaver and his wife purchased what
13would become Weaver Angus Farm in Peoria; from its humble
14beginnings, he built Weaver Enterprises into a successful,
15diversified family business on the principles of hard work,
16integrity, and vision; in 1964, he came to an agreement with
17Colonel Harlan Sanders on a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise
18partnership over a handshake; over the years, several KFC
19franchises would form the nucleus of Weaver Enterprises; and
 
20    WHEREAS, A farmer at heart, Robert Weaver also owned one of
21the premier herds of Black Angus cattle in the country; he

 

 

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1enjoyed exhibiting his pleasure driving horses at competitions
2and events throughout the country and in Canada and England;
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Robert Weaver was a member of many charitable
5boards; he was a founder of Youth Farm and particularly enjoyed
6his years of service on the Salvation Army Advisory Board,
7where he was an emeritus board member; he was a member of the
8New York Coaching Club and the Coaching Club of England; he was
9an honorary life director of the Carriage Association of
10America; he served as president of the Illinois Angus
11Association and the Mennonite Relief Sale; he was also a member
12of the Board of Governors of the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto
13and the Youth for Christ Board; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Robert Weaver was a recipient of the William Booth
15Award and the "Others" Award for his lifetime of service to his
16community; he was a recipient of the Pioneer Angus Breeder
17Award; he was an honoree in the American Angus Association
18Heritage Hall of Fame and the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame;
19he and his wife were also jointly honored as the Association of
20Fundraising Professionals Philanthropists of the Year and as
21Easter Seals Tribute Dinner honorees; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Robert Weaver was preceded in death by his parents
23and 5 siblings, Florence Baltz Simonson, Opal Wilson, Glenn

 

 

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1Weaver, Dorothy Birkey, and Dr. Floyd Weaver; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Robert Weaver is survived by his wife of 69 years,
3Virginia (nee Garber) Weaver; his children, Jerry (Nancy)
4Weaver, Phyllis (Don) Crouch, Steve (Shelley) Weaver, Karen
5(Bob Vespa) Weaver, and Chuck (Laurie) Weaver; a sister,
6Darlene Weaver; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren;
7therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
10we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of
11Robert Avery Weaver; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Robert Weaver as an expression of
14our sympathy.