SR0716 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0716 LRB097 21153 GRL 68626 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William B. "Bill" Belshaw of Metamora, who passed away on April 12, 2012; and

WHEREAS, William Belshaw was born on December 27, 1939, in Chicago; his parents were William L. and Elizabeth J. (Ehringer) Belshaw; he married Marjorie J. Obert on August 30, 1958, in Metamora; and

WHEREAS, William Belshaw served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the United States Navy from 1956 to 1962; and

WHEREAS, William Belshaw was employed as a manufacturing supervisor at the Caterpillar Inc. chemical processing plant in Mossville for 39 years until his retirement in 2001; he served as village president of Metamora for 2 years and as a village board trustee for 4 years; he also served as the Metamora Chief of Police for 21 years; and

WHEREAS, William Belshaw was a past president of the Old Settlers Association and a board member of the Continental Hockey League, where he worked to bring professional hockey to Peoria's Logan Ice Dome in the 1970s; he was also a longtime sponsor of Ducks Unlimited; and

WHEREAS, William Belshaw enjoyed hunting on the Illinois River with his many friends and at Mallard Farms Incorporated, fishing, watching the Chicago Blackhawks, Peoria Rivermen, Peoria Blades, Dallas Cowboys, University of Illinois football, and NASCAR, rose gardening, and painting; he was also a competitive swimmer and had a black belt in judo; and

WHEREAS, William Belshaw is survived by his wife, Marjorie; his son, Bill (Donna) Belshaw; his son-in-law, Ken (the late Sheree) Halvachs; his grandchildren, Ashlee Halvachs and Ken Halvachs Jr.; his brothers, Barry (Carol) Belshaw and Brad (Roxanna) Belshaw; his sister, Roberta (Alan) Hahn; and his many nieces and nephews; 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 William B. "Bill" Belshaw; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William Belshaw as an expression of our sympathy.