William R Prather

Born July 1, 1932, in Peoria to Claude Raymond and Helen (Burkey) Prather, he married Gloria Haddad on December 31, 1954. He later married Evelyn Morris on October 1, 1976. All his wives preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his parents and one sister, Patricia Wilson.

Surviving are one daughter, Rhonda Prather-Tank of Peoria; two sons, William “Pat” Prather of Chillicothe and Neil Prather of West Peoria; one step-son, John Morris of Chillicothe; and three grandchildren, Ryan Tank, Nathaniel Prather, and Nicholas Prather.

Bill attended school in Chillicothe. For several years, he was a truck driver for Nerad Oil, Sinclair, Texaco, and Brewers Distributing. Thereafter, he owned and operated U-Lok Storage and Bee-J Amusements.

Bill’s true passion was in politics, and he spent most of his life in public service. He served the community of Chillicothe for over 40 years. He served as the Chillicothe Township Road Commissioner for 38 1/2 years. Since 2010, he served as a Chillicothe Township Trustee.

He served as President, Past President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director of the Township Officials of Illinois over the years, beginning in 1982.

Since 1970, Bill served as Democrat Precinct Committeeman for Chillicothe Precinct 7. He was also the Chairman of the Peoria County Democratic Central Committee for 16 years, beginning in 1992.

He served on the Peoria County Board for over 34 years, representing Districts 1, 13 and 15, and served as Chairman from 2007-08. Upon Bill’s retirement from the County Board, State Rep. David Leitch presented him with a proclamation for his years of service to the County. The County Board thereafter appointed Bill as a Trustee for the Greater Chillicothe Sanitary District.

Bill co-founded Ambulance Rescue 33, an originally all-volunteer ambulance service, and was a charter member of the Chillicothe Claud-Elen Days, which he and his parents created to support Ambulance Rescue 33. Claud-Elen Days is now in its 49th year and has grown to assist many other local organizations.

Since 1969, Bill worked diligently for the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children and was a permanent contributing member. He was a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in the Mohammed Temple of Peoria and was a member of the 100 Million Dollar Club.

Bill was a member of numerous other clubs and organizations, including the Hanna City Sportsman’s Club, El Hajj Peoria Carvanserai No. 6, Chillicothe Jaycees, Peoria Casting Club, St. Patrick Society, Chillicothe Twin City REACT Team, and United States Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout his years in public service, Bill received numerous awards and achievements. He received two Peoria County Township Highway Commissioner Appreciation awards. He was chosen as the Chillicothe Rotary Club Citizen of the Year in 1979. He received the Outstanding Service to the Taxpayers of Peoria County Award four times, in 1982, 1984, 1988, and 1998. In 1982, he earned the Vice Chairman Reapportionment Committee Award for his assistance with district reapportionment. Also in 1982, he earned the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Community. In 1983, he received the Citizen Participation Award from the Community Workshop and Training Center. In 1985, he received the Betty Osborne Award for his efforts in furthering feminist goals and ideals. In 1993, the Peoria County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 157 recognized him as a “Shop with a Cop” sponsor. He received the Distinguished Service Award for 17 years of service to the Highway Commissioner's Division of Township Officials of Illinois, from 1982-99. In 2002, the Marty Gollnitz VFW Post 4999 presented him with an award for his many years of service. In 2004, he received the President’s Award from the Township Officials of Illinois, the highest award given to one township official in the State each year. In 2007, he received the Charles C. Schlink Memorial Award for Good Government from the Chillicothe Jaycees. In 2014, he received the Award Medal of St. Paul from the Bishop of the Diocese of Quincy. Bill’s other awards and achievements are too numerous to list.

Outside of work and politics, Bill enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, driving along the Illinois River, travelling, collecting antique clocks and jukeboxes, collecting coins, and eating almost any “fried” food. He travelled to Washington, D.C., on numerous occasions and was twice invited to the White House, by President Jimmy Carter and President George W. Bush.

Please join Bill’s family and friends in celebrating his life and service to the community. Visitation will be Friday, April 24, 2015, from 5-7 p.m. at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. Services will be Saturday, April 25, 2015, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Bishop Alberto Morales will officiate. Burial will be in the Chillicothe City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rescue 33 or the Shriners Children’s Hospital.

Please view Bill’s obituary online at www.Woolsey-Wilton.com.