SR0682 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0682 LRB097 20917 KXB 67859 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois State Representative Virgil Cornwell Wikoff of Champaign, who passed away on March 16, 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was born February 6, 1927, in Decatur, the son of Virgil L. and Grace Cornwell Wikoff; he married Helen Moore on August 23, 1947, in Maroa; and

WHEREAS, He grew up on a farm southwest of Maroa that has been in the Wikoff family since the 1860s; after graduation from Maroa Township High School in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific Theater; he then attended the University of Illinois and received his Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering in 1951, following which he was recalled to active duty in the United States Naval Reserve and served for 18 months during the Korean Conflict; and

WHEREAS, When he returned to Champaign, he and a friend founded Lyman-Wikoff Inc., a general construction firm; he was a charter member of the Champaign-Urbana Chapter of the National Association of Home Builders; he was also a member of the Central Illinois Builders Association of the Contractors of America, with whom he held several offices; and

WHEREAS, He became active in the Champaign-Urbana Jaycees and served in many local and State offices; he was awarded a lifetime membership as a Senator in the Junior Chamber International in 1963; he was elected to the Champaign City Council in 1963 and served 4 years; he was then elected mayor of Champaign and served 8 years; during that time he was active in many associations, including the Illinois Municipal League, serving both on its board and as president; and

WHEREAS, In 1977, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and served 3 terms; he was later appointed as a member of the Illinois Liquor Control Commission and for many years was a public member of the Illinois Medical Disciplinary Commission; he was also a member of the American Arbitration Association; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Wikoff was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Bloomington Consistory, Ansar Shrine, and for a time was a member and chairman of the board of managers of the Masonic Home in Sullivan; he was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Champaign; he served on several boards, including the Salvation Army and Developmental Service Center and was a member of the VFW, Kiwanis, and the Champaign County Farm Bureau; he was an honorary member of the University of Illinois Varsity I Association, a past president of both Quarterback and Rebounders, and was also a long time supporter of University of Illinois sports and the University of Illinois Foundation; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter; and

WHEREAS, Virgil Wikoff is survived by his wife, Helen; his daughters, Terri (Robert) Bolduc and Patti (Greg) Bolton; his grandchildren, Jon (Jennie) Bolduc, Holly (Cavan) Dunn, Josh Bolduc, Kendra (Jon) Bristow, and Kristi (Todd) Carlson; and his great-grandchildren, Sophia Dunn, Casey Bolduc, Lyndley Carlson, and Atley Carlson; 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 former Illinois State Representative Virgil Wikoff; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of former Illinois State Representative Virgil Wikoff as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.