093_HR0369
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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Bert Gray has
3 worked extensively in his community both as a volunteer and
4 for the Oswegoland Park District for 27 years; Mr. Gray began
5 with the Park District in 1976 and became the chief
6 administrator in 1980; and
7 WHEREAS, Under Mr. Gray's leadership, the Park District's
8 facilities, programs, and staff have steadily grown as the
9 population the agency serves has almost tripled; when Mr.
10 Gray was hired as the assistant superintendent in 1976, he
11 was only the third full-time staffer the agency supported;
12 today, Mr. Gray heads a staff with 29 full-time employees;
13 the Park District now owns and maintains 34 area parks, an
14 aquatic center, miles of bike trails, and has an annual
15 operating budget of $9 million; and
16 WHEREAS, Mr. Gray has been described as the kind of
17 community leader who sees potential and possibility where
18 others see only dead ends; as Executive Director of the
19 Oswegoland Park District, he worked with various other
20 agencies to transform an historic bridge across the Fox River
21 that was scheduled for demolition into a bike and pedestrian
22 bridge; he also led efforts to convert the site of a former
23 gravel mine and waste dump into 150 acres of wetland,
24 prairie, and hardwood forest on the banks of the Fox River;
25 and
26 WHEREAS, Mr. Gray secured a strong land-cash ordinance
27 which has enabled the Oswegoland Park District to preserve
28 open spaces and to develop greenways and natural spaces
29 within residential areas; he created the Waubonsie Trail,
30 which takes bikers and pedestrians from one end of Oswego to
31 the other and connects with the Fox River Trail; he initiated
32 cooperation between the Oswegoland Park District and Oswego
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1 School District 308 to share equipment, split development
2 costs, and make space available for programs; most recently
3 the school and park districts shared funding for two new
4 double-size gymnasiums; and
5 WHEREAS, Through the creative use of volunteers, Mr. Gray
6 seeks out community input regarding how the Park District can
7 serve them; and
8 WHEREAS, Mr. Gray earned a bachelor's degree in
9 recreation and parks administration at the University of
10 Illinois in 1976 and a master's degree in business management
11 from Aurora University in 1984; he has been a member of the
12 Illinois Association of Park Districts for several years and
13 has served on the Joint Legislative Committee, Administrative
14 and Finance Section, Professional Development School, and
15 Awards and Recognition; and
16 WHEREAS, Mr. Gray has served as the chairperson of the
17 DuKane Valley Council and as Advisor of the Kendall County
18 Forest Preserve District; he has been a member of the Kendall
19 County Youth Service Board, the Oswego Plan Commission, and
20 the Oswego Land Use Plan Task Force; he is a published author
21 and presenter of workshops; he has received numerous
22 community awards and letters of recognition from community
23 organizations including the Oswego Lions Club, Boulder Hill
24 Civic Association, PTA, School District 308 Home and School,
25 and the Oswego Optimist Club; and
26 WHEREAS, Mr. Gray donates his time and energy to the
27 Oswego Optimist Club, the Oswego Lions Club, and the Rotary
28 Club; he is on the building and design team of his church; an
29 Eagle Scout himself, Mr. Gray has been an Assistant
30 Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 48 since 1996; therefore, be
31 it
32 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
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1 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
2 we thank Mr. Bert Gray for his extensive and devoted
3 community work in the Oswego area, and we commend him for his
4 many contributions to the Oswegoland Park District; and be it
5 further
6 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7 presented to Mr. Bert Gray as an expression of our deepest
8 respect and esteem.