Bill Text: IL SR0251 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Richard L. "Dick" Thies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2021-04-29 - Resolution Adopted [SR0251 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SR0251-Introduced.html

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SR0251 LRB102 18232 LAW 25883 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Richard L. "Dick" Thies of Urbana, who
passed away on April 10, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Dick Thies was born in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska to
Arnold C. and Wilma P. Thies on November 7, 1931; during his
upbringing, he lived in a number of locations, including
Kimbell and Gering, both in Nebraska, and Riverside,
California, where he performed as a boy soprano at the famous
Mission Inn; he graduated from Drummer Township High School in
Gibson City in 1949; he received a Bachelor of Arts in History
from the University of Illinois in 1953, where he served as the
student president of the UI YMCA and a student chair of
then-Governor Adlai E. Stevenson II's campaign for U.S.
president; he married Marilyn Webber in 1954; he earned his
LL.B., later converted to a Juris Doctor, from the University
of Illinois College of Law in 1955; he served in the Judge
Advocate General's Department of the U.S. Air Force from 1956
to 1958; and
WHEREAS, Dick Thies practiced law at the firm Webber &
Thies, P.C. in Urbana with his father-in-law and founder,
Judge Charles M. Webber, and his brothers-in-law, Craig R.
Webber and Carl M. Webber; his law practice covered a wide

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range of areas for a diverse client mix; he was particularly
fond of the work he did negotiating on behalf of U.S. clients
in the People's Republic of China and in helping with the
development of Frasca Field in Urbana, the home of his private
airplane he flew for 30 years; he was especially proud when he
was joined at the firm by his sons, David and John, and later
his grandson, Daniel; and
WHEREAS, Dick Thies was a leader in the legal profession
and was noted by peers for serving the interests of his clients
with skill and integrity; he served as president of the
Illinois State Bar Association from 1986 to 1987, and he
served in many capacities and held every high office in that
organization; he belonged to the American Bar Association
(ABA), where he was elected to ABA's Board of Governors in 1988
and was a member of the ABA House of Delegates for 27 years; he
also held offices in a number of ABA-related organizations;
and
WHEREAS, Dick Thies received many awards during his
lifetime, including the Illinois State Bar Association's Award
of Merit, the Illinois News Broadcasters' Distinguished
Service Award, and the Abraham Lincoln Association's Lincoln
the Lawyer Award; he was included in the inaugural class of the
Champaign County Bar Association's Pillars of the Bar; and

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WHEREAS, Dick Thies was involved in many organizations and
institutions in the Champaign-Urbana community; he served as
president of the Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis Club and the Urbana
Association of Commerce; he was chairman of the Citizens
Advisory Board of the Urbana School Board; he was a member the
Salvation Army Advisory Board, the Urbana Park Board, the
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Board, and the boards of the
National Academy of Arts and the Champaign-Urbana Urban
League; he was a member and an elder of First Presbyterian
Church of Urbana; he belonged to the President's Council of
the University of Illinois Foundation and the Dean's Club of
the University of Illinois College of Law; he was a life member
of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, where he
served on the Alumni Association's Trustee Selection Committee
on four occasions; and
WHEREAS, Dick Thies loved and participated in many sports,
including the freshman basketball and baseball teams at the
University of Illinois; he taught his children a love of
sports and a desire for competition at the highest levels; he
enjoyed watching his children participate in their respective
sports; and
WHEREAS, Dick Thies will be remembered for his life of
commitment to his family, to his profession, to his church,
and to his community; and

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WHEREAS, Dick Thies was preceded in death by his parents;
his stepfather, David C. Player; his brother-in-law, Craig R.
Webber; his sister-in-law, Alice J. Webber; and his
brother-in-law, James L. Zaccagni; and
WHEREAS, Dick Thies is survived by his wife of 66 years,
Marilyn Webber Thies; his brother, Dr. David M. Player (Beth);
his sister, Jennifer G. Zaccagni; his brother-in-law, Carl M.
Webber (Betty); his children, David C. Thies (Johanna), Nancy
Thies Marshall (Charlie), Susan Thies Harrison (Mike), John E.
Thies (Terry), and Anne Thies Peters (Jeff); his 16
grandchildren, Stephanie Thies Geier (husband, Brian;
children, Ben and Willa), Daniel Thies (wife, Page; children,
Edward, Peter, Samuel, and Mary), Michael Thies (wife,
Kristin), Adam Thies (wife, Bethany; son, Clive), Ryan
Marshall (wife, Ali Marshall; children, Lucille and Ruth),
Caitlin St. Peter (husband, Beau; daughter, Charlotte), John
Marshall, Isaac Harrison (wife, Abigail), Marie Collins
(husband, Jacob), Elizabeth Harrison, William Harrison,
Kathryn Thies, Caroline Thies, Andrew Peters (wife, Ashlee),
Luke Peters, and Bailey Peters; his 10 great-grandchildren
(with one on the way); and his many cousins, nieces, nephews,
and friends; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL

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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Richard L. "Dick" Thies 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 Dick Thies as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.