HR0761 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0761 LRB097 17633 KXB 65551 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Alan "Bob" Mays of Quincy, who passed away on July 29, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born October 16, 1921, in Quincy, a son of Howard Laytham and Edna Beatrice Best Mays; he married Anne Markley Frank on March 8, 1969, in Quincy; he was formerly married to Alice Porter Morrison; and

WHEREAS, He was a 1938 graduate of Quincy High School, where he was a member of the band and orchestra; he graduated from Gem City Business College in 1939 and Northwestern University in 1943 with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management; he served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1942 to 1954; he was a Lieutenant Commander in the Supply Corps and saw active duty during World War II and the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, He lived his life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ; his favorite slogan was "I wondered why somebody didn't do something, then I realized I am somebody."; he loved his large family, especially the gathering of everyone for the annual water slide party; his advice to his family was "Make today the best day of your life!"; and

WHEREAS, His always entreprenurial spirit led him to be involved in numerous business ventures over the years; and

WHEREAS, Founded by his father in 1923, he became owner and president of Flava Manufacturing; he was the founder of Mays Real Estate, he was a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Mays Real Estate, Inc., with his son, Alan; he developed Spring Lake Estates and co-owned Valley View Campground and Mobile Home Park with George Irwin, as well as owned Mississippi Valley Canteen Service; and

WHEREAS, He was involved in several other businesses, including the Red Carpet, the Open Pantry, and MyBo; he worked with Martin Baral to get businesses into the Quincy Development Center; he had a long career in residential and commercial real estate, particularly enjoying the preservation of several downtown Quincy buildings, including the Newcomb Hotel, 428 Maine, and the Park Hotel; he also developed with his son, Alan, Oakbrook Court and Spring Lake Estates II subdivisions, Kings Pointe condominiums, as well as a commercial development at North Pointe; and

WHEREAS, He was a life-long member of First Union Congregational Church, serving as trustee and chairman of the board; he was a member of the following: the American Legion Post 37 and the Quincy Noon Kiwanis Club, where he served as president in 1956; the Quincy Museum, serving as president from 1977 to 1983; and the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as president in 1962; he was a founding board member of the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area; and he was a member of the Adams County Historical Society, serving as a board member; and

WHEREAS, He was a founding board member of Friends of the Log Cabins; a board member of the Historic Quincy Business District; a board member of the Spring Lake Country Club; and a member of the Illinois Institute for Entrepreneurship Education; Mr. Mays was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity; he was a member of the Adams County Republican Central Committee, as well as precinct committeeman; he was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention for Barry Goldwater in 1964; he was a founding member of JIDC, now GREDF; he was a board member of the Adams County Homemakers; and an original member of the Indian Creek Development Corp; he was a Guardian with NFIB; and a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business in 1986; he was a member of Lambert Lodge #659 AF & AM, the Quincy Consistory, Ansar Shrine, and the Quincy Shrine Club; and

WHEREAS, From 1947 to 1977, he was a Quincy Park District Commissioner; in October 1996, the Quincy Park Board dedicated Bob Mays Park on North 18th Street in his honor; he was awarded the Kiwanis George F. Hixon Fellowship Award in 1998, the Uptown Commitment Award in 1995, the Distinguished Member Award for Community Service from the Illinois Association of Realtors in 1991, and the Outstanding Realtor Career Award by the Quincy Association of Realtors in 1996; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Captain USAAF Richard Best Mays, missing in action December 22, 1943; and his former wife, Alice Porter Morrison Mays; and

WHEREAS, Robert Mays is survived by his wife, Anne; his children, Richard Mays, Alan (Joan) Mays, former State Representative Jeffrey (Lori) Mays, Elise Kimmons, Keith (Jennifer) Frank, and John (Nancy) Frank; his grandchildren, Devi Mays, Andrea (Kenneth) Knapp, Joseph D. (Kelly) Mays, Joseph P. Mays, Samuel Mays, Alexa Wendling, Megan Wendling, Jenna Schaljo, Levi (Ashley) Schaljo, Savanna Schaljo, Stephen Frank, Mathias Frank, Sarah Frank, John Frank Jr., Thomas Frank, and Molly Frank; and his great-grandchildren, Kollin and Mckenzie Knapp and Meredith, Jack, and Clara Mays; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Robert Mays; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Robert Mays as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.