SR0749 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0749 LRB093 24101 CSA 54285 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Ray Soden has served the citizens of DuPage County in the Illinois State Senate since May 1, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Ray was chosen to replace Senator James "Pate" Philip (R-Wood Dale) who retired April 30, 2003; and

WHEREAS, The 23rd District State Senator serves on the Senate Revenue Committee; and

WHEREAS, A strong advocate for veterans, Senator Soden also serves on the Senate Republican Task Force on Veterans; and

WHEREAS, Ray served in World War II as a Navy sonarman 3rd class; and

WHEREAS, Soden enlisted in the United States Navy soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor; and

WHEREAS, He was assigned to the USS Claxton and took part in the North Africa invasion in November 1942; and

WHEREAS, His squadron was then sent to the Pacific theater of operations, where he saw action in the landings at Okinawa, Saipan, Guam, Leyte Gulf, and Iwo Jima; and

WHEREAS, His military service was recognized with European and Asiatic Campaign Medals and seven battle stars; and

WHEREAS, His squadron received two Presidential Unit Citations; and

WHEREAS, Following military service, Soden returned to Illinois and went to work for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company, from which he is now retired; and

WHEREAS, He joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1949 at Post 2149 in Bensenville; and

WHEREAS, He soon became Post Commander, and through the hard work that is the hallmark of his career, increased membership by 573; and

WHEREAS, He then moved on through District and Department chairs, winning election as Department Commander in 1964; and

WHEREAS, Soden has also received many appointments over the years: chairman of the Voice of Democracy Committee; vice-chairman of the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee; chairman of the National Bicentennial Committee; and

WHEREAS, Several times, he also served on the National Convention Committee, and in 1965, served as President of the VFW National Convention Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Ray served as Commander-in-Chief of the national VFW organization from 1973 to 1974; and

WHEREAS, As Commander-in-Chief, he presided over the VFW's 75th anniversary, a year in which the organization took major steps to find out what happened to the prisoners of war who had not returned from Vietnam, and to call for better care and treatment of those veterans who had returned; and

WHEREAS, Ray and his wife, Shirley, live in Wood Dale and have three children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, He is active in many civic projects and is a member of several civic organizations, including the Lions and Kiwanis; and

WHEREAS, Soden served as a DuPage County Board member from 1982 to 1992 and was president of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District from 1988 to 1992; and

WHEREAS, He is a former president of the Oak Park and Bensenville Lions Clubs and the Telephone Pioneers; and

WHEREAS, He was named Wood Dale Citizen of the Year in 2001; and

WHEREAS, An accomplished singer, Soden performed on the National Barn Dance program and shared the microphone with such stars as George Gobel, Lulabelle and Scotty, Homer and Jethro, Red Foley, and Andy Williams; and

WHEREAS, In his 20 months as State Senator, he has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues by handling his duties with the ease and aplomb of a veteran lawmaker; and

WHEREAS, Lawmakers and staff know Senator Soden as a friendly person whose gentlemanly elegance evokes a more gracious era; and

WHEREAS, His easy smile and kindness will be missed during the long hours of debate on the Senate floor; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Ray Soden for his dedicated service as a State Senator for the 23rd District, and wish him well in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this preamble and resolution be presented to Ray Soden with our thanks for a job well done.