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| 1 | SENATE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened | ||||||
| 3 | to learn of the death of Ronald Gayle "Ron" Bittle, Ph,D, who | ||||||
| 4 | passed away on November 28, 2024; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Dr. Bittle was born to Howard and Pauline (Frick) | ||||||
| 6 | Bittle in Anna on July 3, 1937; he graduated from | ||||||
| 7 | Anna-Jonesboro High School, where he was a standout athlete on | ||||||
| 8 | both the football and basketball teams; he served in the U.S. | ||||||
| 9 | Navy along side his brother, Dean, on the USS Soley; he | ||||||
| 10 | received a bachelor's degree in physical education, a master's | ||||||
| 11 | degree in behavior modification, and a doctorate in psychology | ||||||
| 12 | from Southern-Illinois University-Carbondale; he married Peggy | ||||||
| 13 | Hines on December 23, 1956; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, While a student, Dr. Bittle began working in the | ||||||
| 15 | Behavior Research Laboratory located at the Anna State | ||||||
| 16 | Hospital, now Choate Mental Health/Developmental Center, where | ||||||
| 17 | he led extensive studies of behavior therapy and behavior | ||||||
| 18 | modification; the results of these studies were shared with | ||||||
| 19 | scholars and therapists nationally and internationally, | ||||||
| 20 | bringing about positive changes in approaches to mental health | ||||||
| 21 | disorders; and | ||||||
| 22 | WHEREAS, Dr. Bittle was appointed family director of Anna | ||||||
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| 1 | State Hospital in 1979, where he fostered the development of | ||||||
| 2 | close cooperative relations with community-based mental health | ||||||
| 3 | agencies and completed a vigorous program of upgrading and | ||||||
| 4 | remodeling the hospital campus; he also served as the deputy | ||||||
| 5 | director for the State of Illinois Mental Health Services | ||||||
| 6 | during this time; he retired from the Anna State Hospital in | ||||||
| 7 | 1987, and a few years later, he accepted a one-year position as | ||||||
| 8 | an administrator of a neurological rehabilitation facility in | ||||||
| 9 | Mandeville, Louisiana; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, Dr. Bittle remained civically involved through | ||||||
| 11 | his life and served on the Anna-Jonesboro School Board and the | ||||||
| 12 | Union County Housing Authority Board for many years; he worked | ||||||
| 13 | to improve the quality of life for others whether through | ||||||
| 14 | serving his community, his church, or the state; and | ||||||
| 15 | WHEREAS, Dr. Bittle served as a constant source of love | ||||||
| 16 | and support to his family; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, Dr. Bittle was preceded in death by his parents; | ||||||
| 18 | his brothers, Dean, Richard, Gary, and Bob; and his nephew, | ||||||
| 19 | Mark Bittle; and | ||||||
| 20 | WHEREAS, Dr. Bittle is survived by his wife of 67 years, | ||||||
| 21 | Peggy; his son, Bradley (Laurie) Bittle; two grandchildren; | ||||||
| 22 | his brother, Randy (Lynn) Bittle; his sisters-in-law, Kay | ||||||
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| 1 | (Richard) Bittle and Sharon (Dean) Bittle; and many nieces, | ||||||
| 2 | nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 3 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL | ||||||
| 4 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
| 5 | Ronald Gayle 'Ron" Bittle, Ph.D., and extend our sincere | ||||||
| 6 | condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved | ||||||
| 7 | him; and be it further | ||||||
| 8 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 9 | presented to the family of Dr. Bittle as an expression of our | ||||||
| 10 | deepest sympathy. | ||||||