HR1314 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1314 LRB098 23122 MST 62106 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of William Travis "Bill" Plater, who passed away on August 1, 2014; and

WHEREAS, William Plater was born in Vienna on August 10, 1927 to William Garrett and Ruby K. (nee Travis) Plater; he served in the United States Navy during World War II and in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps during the Korean War; he graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale (SIU) in 1951 and worked for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat as a writer and artist; and

WHEREAS, William Plater was best known for portraying the character of "Cactus Pete" for 16 years for WSIL-TV3 in Harrisburg; "Cactus Pete" was a blend of cowboy, prospector, and Gabby Hayes types, who anyone that grew up in southern Illinois or attended SIU during the 1960s and 1970s would remember; he also played "Ruffles the Clown" and "The Cartoon Man" and was emcee of the afternoon variety program, "Studio Show", for WSIL-TV3; he joined the station as an art director when it first went on the air in December of 1953; and

WHEREAS, William Plater married Susan K. (nee Payne) McGill on December 28, 1991; and

WHEREAS, Following his time on television, William Plater founded Plater Printing & Trophies, Inc. in Harrisburg and ran it for 18 years; after that, he and his wife established Graphics Galore, Inc. in Marion and operated it for 8 years; in semi-retirement, they started a promotional product business, "The Idea Shop"; and

WHEREAS, William Plater enjoyed reading newspapers, drawing, painting, gardening, and yard work; and

WHEREAS, William Plater was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, William Plater is survived by his wife, Susan; his daughter, Darci Plater; his son, William Kelly Plater; his step-daughter, Cynthia (Darren) Ward; his step-son, Bryan (Melinda) McGill; 4 step-grandchildren, Jacob Norris and Murphy, Lenox, and Rogan Ward; his sister, Mary Ann (George) Chenoweth; his brother-in-law, Philip (Rosemary) Payne; his niece, Kathy Hefele; and his cousin, Wanda Slack; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William Travis "Bill" Plater, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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