SR0217 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0217 LRB094 12387 HSS 46645 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of M. Dean Whitfield Sr. of Sun City, Huntley, and formerly of Glenview, on Tuesday, January 18, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born on January 5, 1929, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to James H. and Lillian (Cutshall) Whitfield; he grew up in Lakemont, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Hollidaysburg High School in 1946; he graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 1950 and worked as an assistant secretary for the Altoona Chamber of Commerce from 1950 to 1952 and as president of the Blair Chemical Co. in Altoona until 1955; and

WHEREAS, He relocated and worked with Townsend Co. in Chicago until 1960, when he founded Whitfield Associates Inc., a manufacturer's representatives sales agency, where he retired in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Whitfield was elected to serve as Glenview Park District Commissioner in 1961 and served 21 years on the board; he was active in the Glenview Little League, Boy Scouts, Junior Football, Glenbrook South Parents' Club, and the Northfield Township Republican Organization; he also served as a Deacon at the Winnetka Bible Church and on the Palau Evangelistic Association and Share International Boards; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, he moved to Huntley, where he founded the Sun City Civic Committee, served as president for three years, and was a member of the SonShine Boys and Fox Valley Church; and

WHEREAS, The passing of M. Dean Whitfield Sr. has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Shirley (Fowkes); his children, Dean (Susan Vokaty), Susan (Harry Schonau), Mark (Debra DeWild), Jim (Claudia Hendee), Drew (Christine Beitzel), Todd (Linda McCann), and Matt (Heather Kelson); his grandchildren, Jenn and Darren, Katy and Rhett, Betsy and Jerrad, Carrie, Lisa, and Chris, Bill and Angie, Tom and Rachael, Jessica and Eric, Drew, Bekah, Celia, Jenna, Jake, Nate, Luke and Elise, Emily and Dennis, Zac, Seth, Noah, Amy, Jacob, Rachel, and Hailey; his great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Liam, Eli, Ethan, Elaine, Evyn, Anna, Emily, Natalie, Macy, Emma, and Payton; he was preceded in death by his son, Timothy Scott; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of M. Dean Whitfield Sr., celebrating his life, starting with his faith, his family, his country, and including his devoted work for the Republican Party in his community, and we extend our deepest sympathy 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 his family as an expression of our sincerest condolences.