Bill Text: IL SJR0037 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designates the new Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River along Illinois Route 150 and Missouri Route 51 as the "Don Welge Memorial Bridge".

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2023-05-24 - Referred to Rules Committee [SJR0037 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SJR0037-Introduced.html

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SJ0037 LRB103 32366 MST 61771 r
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
Assembly pays honor and respect to those who have made a
difference in their community and the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Don Welge of Chester passed away on April 16,
2020; and
WHEREAS, Don Welge was born to William H. and Rudelle F.
(Fritze) Welge in St. Louis, Missouri on July 11, 1935; he
married Mary Alice Childers at St. John Lutheran Church in
Chester on August 4, 1962; he served in the U.S. Army; and
WHEREAS, Don Welge and his family created the Gilster-Mary
Lee Corporation, one of the largest independent food
processing companies in the United States, establishing food
processing plants on both sides of the Mississippi River and
providing hundreds of good jobs in production, warehousing,
and delivery truck driving; and
WHEREAS, Don Welge served as an adviser for the School of
Business at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale and
Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau; he was
also an active Louisiana State University alumnus with the
School of Agriculture; and

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WHEREAS, Don Welge established a reputation as a supporter
of economic development, serving as a member of the chambers
of commerce in Chester and Steeleville, both in Illinois, and
Perryville, Missouri; he was also a director for the Buena
Vista National Bank; and
WHEREAS, Don Welge was a member of St. John Lutheran
Church in Chester; he passionately supported the Boy Scouts
for more than 40 years and previously served as council
president; he served as master of ceremonies for the Fourth of
July celebration held on Kaskaskia Island for many years; and
WHEREAS, Don Welge was preceded in death by his parents;
his brother, Bruce Welge; and his brother-in-law, Wib Saak;
and
WHEREAS, At the time of his passing, Don Welge was
survived by his wife, Mary Alice Welge; his sons, Robert
(Paige) Welge and Thomas (Tracy) Welge; his brother, Mike
(Betty) Welge; his sister-in-law, Julia Saak; his
grandchildren, Austin Welge, Lauren Welge, Jackson Welge, and
William Welge; and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and
friends; and
WHEREAS, Don Welge worked hard to gain support for the

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building of a new bridge over the Mississippi River to connect
Illinois and Missouri; and
WHEREAS, The Chester Bridge has two 11-foot lanes and
carries 7,000 vehicles per day, connecting the cities of
Chester and Perryville, Missouri across the Mississippi River
along Illinois Route 150 and Missouri Route 51; and
WHEREAS, Plans are underway by the Illinois Department of
Transportation and the Missouri Department of Transportation
to replace the Chester Bridge; and
WHEREAS, Randolph County of Illinois, the Community
Foundation of Randolph County, Perry County of Missouri, and
the City of Perryville, Missouri have adopted resolutions
supporting naming the new Chester Bridge in honor of Don
Welge; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the new
Chester Bridge over the Mississippi River along Illinois Route
150 and Missouri Route 51 as the "Don Welge Memorial Bridge";
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation

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is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
giving notice of the name the "Don Welge Memorial Bridge"; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to the family of Don Welge, Randolph County of
Illinois, the Community Foundation of Randolph County, Perry
County of Missouri, the City of Perryville, Missouri, the
Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, and
the Secretary of the Missouri Department of Transportation.