Michel was a frequent winning pitcher in the annual Democrats vs. Republicans baseball game, and in 1993, the Capitol Hill publication Roll Call, named him to its Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1994, Michel received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards. The Bob Michel Bridge, carrying Illinois Route 40 across the Illinois River at Peoria, is named after Robert H. Michel as is the Robert H. Michel Student Center at Bradley University. In the United States Capitol, the second-floor suite of offices occupied by the Speaker were designated the Robert H. Michel Rooms by the House in 1995. At the Capitol Hill Club located adjacent to the Republican National Committee, the cloak room is named for Bob Michel. In Peoria, Illinois, the VA Clinic is named the Bob Michel Community Based Outpatient Clinic. The Robert H. Michel Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the Creve Coeur Club of Peoria each year at the Club's Washington Day Banquet to recognize community leadership. Robert H. Michel was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State's highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois in 1997 in the area of Government. Personal life and death Michel was married to Corinne Woodruff (Michel) from 1948 until her death in 2003. The couple had four children, Scott, Bruce, Robin, and Laurie. In 1978, he required hospital treatment after he was robbed and beaten by youths outside his Washington, D.C. home. One perpetrator was caught and convicted in juvenile court of assault on a member of Congress and assault with intent to rob. Michel died on February 17, 2017, at the age of 93 from pneumonia in Arlington, Virginia. References External links Information about Michel's Leadership positions (PDF File) |- |- |- |- |- |- 1923 births 2017 deaths 20th-century American politicians American people of French descent American people of German descent Bradley University alumni Deaths from pneumonia in Virginia Military personnel from Illinois Minority leaders of the United States House of Representatives Politicians from Peoria, Illinois Presidential Citizens Medal recipients Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army soldiers United States congressional aides Washington, D.C., Republicans