BERNARD ILLE

February 8, 1927 - November 12, 2013 OKLAHOMA CITY Bernard G. Ille was born in Ponca City, OK on February 8, 1927. His family moved to Oklahoma City in 1930. He was educated at Bishop John Carroll School from the first grade through high school, when he graduated in 1944. He then attended Oklahoma University on a basketball scholarship. In February 1945, he entered the U.S. Coast Guard and served aboard the USS Leonard Wood, a personal attack carrier in the South Pacific, until his discharge in June of 1946. He returned to O.U. and earned a degree in Business Administration. At O.U., he pledged Kappa Alpha fraternity, serving as president of his pledge class and then the fraternity. He was chosen as the outstanding member of the O.U. fraternity for the years 1950 through 2000. Upon graduation, Ille started his business career at Caston Lumber Co. and also coached Catholic High School basketball from 1952 through 1954. During his time there, the name of the school was changed to Bishop McGuinness High School. In 1952, Ille entered the life insurance business with Phoenix Mutual Life and in 1954, became the OKC General Agent for Farmers & Bankers Life. In 1956, he became an organizing member of United Founders Life and led their marketing division, where he became an Assistant Vice President and then, Vice President and Director of Agencies. In 1963, he became Executive Vice President and Treasurer and was instrumental in the building of the 20-story home office building, United Founders Life Tower. He was also involved in organizing Founders Bank and Trust, where he served as a director. In 1966, he was elected President of United Founders Life, where he served until 1988. He then became President of First Life Assurance Co. until he retired from the business in 1994. During his career, he earned his CLU designation as Chartered Life Underwriter - Marketing and as Chartered Life Underwriting - Agency Management. In 1967, he became a member of the internationally known Young Presidents Organization (YPO) for persons becoming presidents of a large corporation before the age of 40. For outside interests, he was chairman of Kappa Alpha Housing Corporation and was instrumental in the construction of a new Kappa Alpha fraternity house on the O.U. campus. He was constantly working with the alumni and active members in what is the oldest fraternity in the state of Oklahoma. Also during these years, he served as President of the Oklahoma Association of Life Underwriters for Oklahoma Companies and as Chairman of the Oklahoma Guaranty Association for 10 years. He served on the Board of Directors and was the Chairman of the Board of Bishop McGuinness High School. He organized and was the first President of the National Football Foundation for Oklahoma. He was a member of the OKC All-Sports Association board of directors for 20 years. He was an organizing member of Quail Creek Golf and Country Club and was the initial Chairman of their Membership Committee. He was a member of the Board of Directors of LSB Industries for over 40 years and was Chairman of its Audit Committee for 20 years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Landmark Land Co. and helped organize Oak Tree Golf and Country Club before he retired. He was also an organizer and first President of ESSCO Management Consultants, which worked with non-profit organizations. After retiring from the life insurance business at age 67, he started a consultation company called BML Consultants. He continued serving on the Board of Directors of LSB Industries, Quail Creek Bank and Landmark Land Co. and acted as an expert witness in difficult insurance company cases. As a consultant, Ille was appointed by the Oklahoma Insurance Dept. to act as receiver in the Mid-Continent Life Insurance receivership for almost two years. The company ultimately regained its stature to operate and was taken over by American Fidelity. Ille was an O.U. sports advocate and was associated with Bud Wilkinson, Gomer Jones, Jim Mackenzie, Chuck Fairbanks, Barry Switzer and Gary Gibbs in football recruiting, with Bruce Drake and John MacLeod in basketball recruiting and was helpful in building the current O.U. basketball arena. Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Marie Ille; and brother, Donald. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Lou Allen, whom he met on a blind date at O.U. while he was president of the KA fraternity and she was president of the Chi Omega sorority. They have three children, Meredith, Les, and Frank. Les and Andrea Campbell Ille have three children, Genevieve, Duncan, and Montgomery; and Frank and Meg Wittwer Ille have three children, Evan, Isabelle, and Alexandra. He is also survived by sisters, Marjorie Ille and Susan Shelly, and brother, Fred Ille, all of Portland, OR. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, November 18, 2013, at Christ the King Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School and Catholic Charities.