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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Secretary of State Jesse
4White on becoming the longest serving Secretary of State in
5Illinois history on May 30, 2014; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Secretary White served in the General Assembly for
716 years, as Cook County Recorder of Deeds for 6 years, and was
8first elected Secretary of State in 1998 - the first
9African-American to serve in that position; he won landslide
10re-election in 2002, 2006, and 2010; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Secretary White has strengthened the Secretary of
12State Inspector General's Office, reformed the State's
13Commercial Driver's License Program, cracked down on fraud and
14abuse in the Parking Program for Persons with Disabilities,
15fought for tougher DUI laws, enforced investor protection laws,
16streamlined operations to improve customer service, and
17continued to upgrade and expand the range of services available
18online; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Secretary White has introduced groundbreaking
20programs and legislative initiatives that have made Illinois a
21national leader in traffic safety and directly led to saved
22lives on the roads; the Secretary of State's Organ/Tissue Donor

 

 

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1Program has received national acclaim and continues to serve as
2a model for other states; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Secretary White has always had a commitment to
4improving young lives; he founded the internationally renowned
5Jesse White Tumbling Team in 1959 and continues to work with
6the team to help at-risk youth stay drug-free and in school; as
7State librarian, he brought his innovative Project Next
8Generation program to public libraries across the State; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Secretary White was born in Alton and earned his
10Bachelor of Science degree in 1957 from Alabama State College;
11he served in the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division
12and as a member of the Illinois National Guard and Army
13Reserve; he played professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs
14organization and spent 33 years as a teacher and administrator
15with Chicago public schools; and
 
16    WHEREAS, During his tenure as Secretary of State, Jesse
17White has made Illinois's roads safer, raised the ethical
18standards in his office, and used modern technology to make his
19office consumer friendly; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22we congratulate Secretary of State Jesse White on becoming the

 

 

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1longest serving Secretary of State in Illinois history and wish
2him many more years of success; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to Secretary White as an expression of our esteem and
5respect.