Gene H. Graves, 79, of Springfield, died Sunday, November 23, 2008, at Memorial Medical Center. He was born December 10, 1928, outside of Marion, Crittenden County, Kentucky. His parents, Eugene H. Graves and Mayme Graves, predeceased him. He was also predeceased by his younger brother, William Graves. He married Norma J. Jackson in East St. Louis, Illinois, on October 6th, 1951. Gene served in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant, at age 20, in 1949. Thereafter, he joined the Air Force Reserve and was discharged at the rank of Second Lieutenant, on August 13th, 1954. He earned a B.S. degree from Southern Illinois University and was president of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. Gene began his career as a schoolteacher in Elkton, Illinois, where he taught until 1957. He worked from 1957 to 1959 with the Ford Motor Company in labor relations. He then took a job with Southern Illinois University in the Community Affairs Department. During this time, he was President of the Madison/St. Clair County Urban League. He began his career in state government in 1962, when he was appointed by Governor Otto Kerner as Executive Director of the Board of Economic Development. In 1965, the Govenor of Illinois created the cabinet position, Director of the Department of Business Development, to which Gene was first named. Under his directorship involving many world trade tours and international agreements, Gene and his wife met with numerous dignitaries and world leaders, resulting in Illinois becoming the number one export State in the nation. Also under his administration, Illinois went from the number 12 to the third ranked state in the nation at attracting new industry. He was instrumental in the State of Illinois being named by the Atomic Energy Commission as the recipient the atom smasher built in Weston, Illinois. From 1969 to 1974, Gene worked as the Special Assistant to the President, Southern Illinois University. Thereafter, he took a job as President of Flamex Corporation, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Gene returned with his family to Springfield in 1975 and became Director of Physical Services, Secretary of State's Office, for the State of Illinois. He then worked for a short time as a realtor before retiring. Gene thoroughly enjoyed life. He greatly appreciated a good joke and a bad pun. He had a penchant for telling both. He looked forward to the weekly "meeting of the minds" on Mondays at Two Brothers. Gene is survived by his wife, Norma, three sons James Mitchell Graves (wife, Kim) of Edwardsville, Bradley Scott Graves (wife, Judy) of South Pasadena, Florida, Kenneth Byron Graves (wife, Barb), Springfield, Illinois, one daughter, Leslie Janine Graves, Springfield, Illinois; his brother, Robert (wife, Julie) Graves of Springfield; and his sister, Martina (husband, Loren) Wolfe of Detroit, Michigan. Gene is also survived by nine grandchildren. Family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2008 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. A funeral ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home with Vaughn Beeman officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to ZERO the Project to End Prostate Cancer, 1154 Fifteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
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