SR1674 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1674 LRB098 23314 MST 62386 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ralph H. Baahlmann, Jr. of Godfrey, who passed away on November 17, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Baahlmann, Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri on May 5, 1953 to Dr. Ralph, Sr. and Virginia "Ginny" (nee Gangloff) Baahlmann; he graduated from Marquette Catholic High School in Alton and attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, where he was elected freshman class president; during his sophomore year, he was a TV camera operator and hosted the campus television show; he then transferred to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville in 1973 to focus on mass communications for a career in broadcast journalism; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, Ralph Baahlmann, Jr. trained to become an EMT-A; he was certified in Illinois and with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians; he worked at Gent Funeral Home, Inc. in Alton and later for Marks Mortuary in Wood River, where he worked the ambulance in addition to his other duties at the funeral home; in 1976, during his service at Gent Funeral Home, he was appointed as a volunteer deputy coroner; in 1984, he was hired as Madison County's first paid deputy; two years later he was hired full-time and was appointed as chief deputy coroner; in addition to 2 longtime stints as chief deputy, he was a field training officer, shift supervisor, chief investigator, and evidence supervisor; he later became a board-certified diplomat of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators; he was a 17-year investigator for the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Baahlmann, Jr. was a 20-year member of the Alton Exposition Commission and a deputy registrar for the Madison County Clerk's Office; he served on the Alton Civil Defense Board in the late 1970s and was a 25-year member of Twin Rivers Search and Rescue, where he served as president for 12 years; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Baahlmann, Jr. was a regular speaker at schools around the county for decades; he was a 4th Degree member of the Alton Knights of Columbus Council 460; he was also a member of the Alton-Wood River Sportsmen's Club, the Wood River Moose Family Center Lodge #1349, the Madison County Police Association, the Illinois Coroners & Medical Examiners Association, and the Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association, where he served as its first president; he was a member of St. Ambrose Parish in Godfrey; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Baahlmann, Jr. was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Ralph Baahlmann, Jr. is survived by his life partner, Jerry Nailor; 2 sisters, Barbara M. Boyd (Dr. Tobin Boyd) and Nancy E. Reese (Tom); 3 brothers, Mark G. Baahlmann, Matthew L. Baahlmann (Teri), and John L. Baahlmann (Nancy); and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ralph H. Baahlmann, Jr., 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 Ralph Baahlmann, Jr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.