HR0093 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0093 LRB103 31132 ECR 57841 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Laurence J. Msall, who passed away on February 4, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Laurence Msall was born to Emil and Lucille Msall in Chicago in the winter of 1962; he graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Chicago in 1980; he earned his bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Knox College in Galesburg in 1984, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity; he earned his Juris Doctor at Loyola University School of Law, Evening Division, in 1992; he married Nicola Hill-Cordell in 2018; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from Knox College, Laurence Msall moved to Springfield to work for then-Governor Jim Thompson at the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs; in 1990, he joined the staff of the Commercial Club of Chicago as vice president, where he worked with the CEOs of some of Chicago's largest corporations to promote regional economic development strategies and special projects, including the Chicago Bears stadium and reorganization of the United Way of Chicago; in 1999, he was appointed by then-Governor George H. Ryan as senior advisor for Economic Development, where he was responsible for the oversight of 11 of the State's economic development and infrastructure-related agencies; and

WHEREAS, In January 2002, Laurence Msall became president of the Civic Federation, an independent, non-partisan government research organization; over his 20-year tenure as president, he worked tirelessly to make the organization an indispensable source of reliable fiscal information and government process recommendations to public officials, the media, and the general public; and

WHEREAS, Laurence Msall belonged to several organizations, including the Board of Directors of the Woods Fund of Chicago, the Chicago Civic Consulting Alliance, the Cook County Health Nominating Committee, and the Kennedy Forum of Illinois; he served on the Knox College Board of Trustees since 2017, which included serving on the 2020-21 Presidential Search Committee; he also served on the Advisory Board of the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs and NPR Illinois Issues; and

WHEREAS, Laurence Msall was an active volunteer with PADS Homeless Shelter and L'arche Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Laurence Msall was an avid runner, fisherman, world traveler, and White Sox fan; and

WHEREAS, Laurence Msall was a doting father, a loving husband, a true sibling, a generous friend and mentor, and a true Chicago civic leader; and

WHEREAS, Laurence Msall was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gerard Peter; and

WHEREAS, Laurence Msall is survived by his wife; his daughters, Lucille, Camille, and Matilda; his wife's children, Alex (Maria), Samantha (Michael), Tommy, Tess, and Oscar; his grandchildren, Valerie, Owen, and Reece Jeffrey; his siblings, Michael (Karla), Anita, Karin (Steve) Fischer, Mary (Scott) Rogers, Camille, Madeleine (Frank Mauceri), Christianne, and Julianne (Christopher) Pegler; his first wife, Mary Jo Smith; his many nieces and nephews; and his legion of friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Laurence J. Msall and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Laurence Msall as an expression of our deepest sympathy.