William B. 'Bill' Black

DANVILLE- William B. "Bill" Black, 81, of Danville passed away on September 9, 2023 at Goldwater Care in Danville. Bill was elected to the Illinois General Assembly from the 105th District in November 1986 after serving since February 1986 when he was appointed to fill a vacancy. A former administrator of Danville Area Community College, he received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri in 1963 followed by a master's degree from the University of Illinois in 1968. A native of Danville, he served on the Vermilion County Board from 1976 to 1986 and served as Chairman from 1981-1983. Bill Black moved to the General Assembly after a 22-year career in education and civic involvement. Black was elected to his 12th term in the Illinois House of Representatives in November 2008 in the 104th District. Bill was born in Danville, Illinois on November 11, 1941 the son of Willard and Laura (Murray) Black. He graduated from Franklin Grade School in 1955 and Danville High School in 1959.

Active in civic activities, Bill Black is a past president of the Danville Jaycees and Danville South Rotary. His many activities include service on the Danville Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Vermilion County Chapter of the American Red Cross, St. Elizabeth Hospital Mental Health Advisory Board, Boy Scouts of America, Director of the YMCA Youth Center, Danville Junior Achievement Board, and in 1995 served as the Honorary Christmas Chairman for the Vermilion County Salvation Army Unit. He was the recipient of the Danville Distinguished Service Award in 1972 and is a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Foundation. His family has owned and operated a small business in the Danville area for over 60 years. He was active in the formation of the Danville Area Economic Development Corporation. He was chosen as a member of the Danville High School Wall of Fame in 2002 and was named a distinguished Eagle Scout in 1999.

The Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies named Representative Black the Outstanding Freshman Legislator of the Year in 1987. He received the Illinois Community College Trustee Association Meritorious Service Award in 1988 and has received dozens of Outstanding Legislator Awards from various Illinois associations. He was named one of the ten Outstanding State Legislators in the country in 1991. He was named GOP floor leader in 1991 and served as the Deputy Minority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives. He retired from the Illinois General Assembly in 2011, after serving 25 years.

He was elected Alderman on the Danville City Council in April of 2011 and served as a Trustee on the Danville Area Community College Board. A life member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association, Black received their Distinguished Legislator Award in 2008.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sharon (MacArthur) Black, and their two children Debra (Scott) Alexander and Doug (DeeDee) Black. He also leaves behind his 6 grandchildren Ryan Alexander, Lauren Alexander, Evan Black, Kriegh (Channah) Black, Kole Black, and Britney Rodman; his brother Bob (Jackie) Black; and his 2 stepsisters Denia (Don) Zuch and Cathy Speerly.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and stepmother, Helen Black.

Visitation for Bill Black will be held from 4-7 PM on Friday, September 15, 2023, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N. Vermilion St. Danville, IL 61834. Private family services will be held at a later time. Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Park in Danville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donors choice or the Bill Black Scholarship at Danville Area Community College. Please join Bills family in sharing memories, photos, and videos of his life through his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.