SR2058 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2058 LRB100 23349 ALS 42370 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Robert Leander "Bob" Martin of Chicago, who passed away on July 26, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Bob Martin was born in Dubuque, Iowa to Dr. Henry Ambrose and Mattie (Ducano) Martin on February 9, 1919; he was the sixth of nine children; he earned Boy Scout merit badges as a Lone Scout, and his interest in golf was sparked while working at a golf club; he also skied, was a ski jumper, and enjoyed traveling; he graduated from Dubuque Senior High School; he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University at Ames; while at Ames, he also earned his pilot's license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program; later in life, he studied computer programming; and

WHEREAS, Bob "Fox" Martin was a fighter pilot with the Army Air Corps during World War II; one of the Tuskegee Airmen, he received his wings in 1944 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant; he served with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group in the European Theater of Operations; one of the "Red Tails," he flew single-engine planes, including the P-51 Mustang, on long-range bomber escorts and strafing missions to destroy enemy resources; and

WHEREAS, In March of 1945, during his 64th and final combat mission, Bob Martin's plane was hit by ground fire while strafing the aerodrome at Zagreb, Yugoslavia, now Croatia; he was forced to parachute from his burning plane and was rescued by and spent the next five weeks with the partisans and at an allied mission before he returned to his base in Ramitelli, Italy; he earned several service medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters; he was honorably discharged in 1945 as a First Lieutenant; in the Reserves, he rose to the rank of Captain; and

WHEREAS, After the war, Bob Martin moved to Chicago, where he met Odette Ewell; they married in 1950; he secured a position as an electrical engineer with Chicago's Bureau of Electricity, where he planned and supervised street light installations; he retired as an Electrical Design Engineer after 37 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Bob Martin was an early member of the Chicago "DODO" Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and he devoted countless hours to preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and to promoting interest in aviation careers; he spoke to groups about the experiences of the Tuskegee Airmen in general, as well as his personal experiences; for many years, he designed and sewed his own elaborate costumes for DODO's annual Mardi Gras Ball; he helped to organize scholarship fundraisers and volunteered with the Young Eagles Flight Program, which provides free flights in small planes to children ages 10 to 17; he garnered many civilian honors, the most notable being the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 and his entry into the United States Congressional Record on June 10, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Bob Martin was an avid golfer and golfed in all 50 states; he was a member of the Divot's Golf Club, where he held many offices; he was a voracious reader of military aviation history, the Smithsonian magazine, National Geographic, and various engineering journals; he wrote poetry and participated in his residents' poetry group; most recently, he worked extensively with a co-author on a book about his life; he mentored many family members; he had a gregarious soul, a zest for life, a sense of adventure, a quick wit, and a sharp and curious mind; and

WHEREAS, Bob Martin was preceded in death by his brothers, Clarence, Henry, Thornton, and Joseph; and his three sisters, Lillian, Vivian (Smith), and Hettie (Stevens); and

WHEREAS, Bob Martin is survived by his wife, Odette Martin, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, City Colleges of Chicago; his children, Robert Martin Jr., Gabrielle Martin, Noelle Martin, and Dominique Martin; his grandchildren, Robert Martin III and Bradley J. Martin; his sister, Delores Owens; and his many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, great-grandnephews, other relatives, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Robert Leander "Bob" Martin 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 Bob Martin as an expression of our deepest sympathy.