SR0508 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0508 LRB097 16764 KXB 61943 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Arthur S. Nicholas, who passed away on December 22, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was a veteran of the United States Navy; he grew up in Greece and actively fought the Communists in that country following World War II; and

WHEREAS, After emigrating to the United States, he worked as a dishwasher, but within 25 years became President of a Fortune 500 Company and a member of the Young Presidents Organization; during that time, he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, founded Leon Chemicals, Inc., an innovative and profitable automotive plastics supplier, authored 13 patents, and joined US Industries, a global conglomerate, where he was appointed President in 1973; and

WHEREAS, Following his tenure at US Industries, he was brought in by a group of banks to serve as President of Evanston-based Apeco Corporation, where he lead the firm out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy status; he later entered the field of investment banking as Partner at the Chicago firm Nicholas, Feder and Jaffe, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, In his retirement, he funded a scholarship at the University of Michigan to help ensure that economically disadvantaged students have the same opportunities that allowed him to be successful; he was also a key figure in the buildings of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine; and

WHEREAS, Arthur Nicholas was the beloved husband of Bess, nee Zazanis; the loving father of Dr. Niki (Dr. Charles Nicholson) Nicholas, Arthur (Montean LaPorte) Nicholas Jr., and Thomas (Julia) Nicholas; the proud grandfather of Nathan, Carly, Laura, and Trent; the dear brother of James (Georgia), George (Katina), and Chrysis (Robert) Hultzen; and the fond uncle of many; therefore, be it

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

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