RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 72; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton a former Mayor of Gurnee and the loving husband of Debby; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton was the much-adored father of five children and seven grandchildren to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A native of Gurnee, the Honorable Richard Welton graduated from Warren Township High School and Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton joined Welton's Food Mart, and following the death of his father, helped to drive the expansion of the family-run business into a five-store chain; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton became a Gurnee Trustee in 1971 and was then elected in 1973 as the youngest mayor in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, During his esteemed tenure, the Honorable Richard Welton led Gurnee's expansion from a small town into a thriving retail and commercial hub; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton played an influential role in the establishment of Six Flags Great America and the Gurnee Mills Shopping Center; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton was the first mayor from Lake County to serve as President of the Illinois Municipal League; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton was a member of the PACE transit agency board for the past 20 years and a 35-year member of the Gurnee Exchange Club; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Honorable Richard Welton serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared the Honorable Richard Welton to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Richard Welton was an individual of great integrity and accomplishment who will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, the Honorable Richard Welton imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-fourth day of September 2015, do hereby commemorate the Honorable Richard Welton for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of the Honorable Richard Welton.
