His obituary mentions his 40 years as a chiropractor in central Illinois, but there was also his work at IDOT/Division of Waterways helping with several of the man-made lakes coming to fruition in this state, his work as a Springfield police officer and a narcotics officer with the Illinois Narcotics Bureau and his run for Christian County coroner against a long-time Democratic incumbent.
He found in his cardiologist, Dr. Richard Katholi, an unexpected friend. Dr. Katholi remembered my father coming into a downtown pharmacy when he was a beat cop and Dr. Katholi was then a pharmacist, before either of them pursued different, health-oriented careers.
Submitted by his daughter, Michelle L. Gillen
This article appears in Remembering 2021.
