SR0787 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0787 LRB098 16114 MST 51170 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Mabel Charlene (nee Meisenheimer) Gill of Godfrey, who passed away on December 13, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Mabel Gill was born on July 3, 1924 in Alton to Charles and Mable Dehne Meisenheimer; she was educated in Brighton public schools and attended Shurtleff College, Washington University in St. Louis, Southern Illinois University, and Tarkio College; she earned a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Management; she married Fred L. Gill on February 3, 1946 at Brighton St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church; and

WHEREAS, Mabel Gill worked as a photogrammetrist and supervisory cartographer from 1948 until 1980; she started her career at the United States Air Force's Aeronautical Chart Plant (later the United States Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Information Center) in St. Louis, first as a photogrammetric aide, later becoming the first female supervisor in her department; she retired in 1980 as Program Manager from the Program, Plans, and Operations of the Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center, where she was the first Federal Woman's Program Manager; for 5 years, she was the newsletter editor of the Photogrammetric Engineering Journal of the American Society of Photogrammetry; and

WHEREAS, Mabel Gill had a passion for history which led her to be a co-founder of the Alton Museum of History and Art; she was instrumental in the museum's success, volunteering there for 42 years and eventually becoming President Emeritus; she was the founder of the Arsenal '76 Chapter of Federally Employed Women, President of the St. Louis Zonta Club, President of the American Society of Photogrammetry, board member of the National Conference Center since 1979, founder of the Missouri Women's Network in 1982, Co-Chair of the Equal Rights Amendment Caucus, and Chair of the Shake Hands with History Committee; she authored several books for the Alton Museum; and

WHEREAS, Mabel Gill served as President of the Alton Women's Council and the Alton Area Historical Society, helped form 2 Toastmasters International Clubs in St. Louis, and was one of the first women to be an Area Governor of the Toastmasters; she also served as the Grand Marshal of the Alton Memorial Day Parade; her accolades include the Young Women's Christian Association's Woman of Distinction Award, 100 Women of Substance, the Studs Terkel Humanities Award, and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution's Historic Preservation Medal, among many others; she is listed in "Who's Who in the Midwest" and "Who's Who of American Women"; and

WHEREAS, Mabel Gill was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred; her daughter-in-law, Ann Gill; her granddaughter, Kathie Smith; and her sisters, Melba and Viola; and

WHEREAS, Mable Gill is survived by her sons, Charles Gill and Frederic "Rick" (Laura) Gill; those she helped raise, Vicki Winchester, Bette (Steven) Paul, Douglas (Paula) Miller, Debra (Frank) Herrera, Bruce (Vickie) Miller, and Becki (Randy) Rhyne; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Mabel Charlene Gill, and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

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