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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to honor former State Representative
4 Chuck Hartke, as he steps down as the Director of the
5 Department of Agriculture on February 29; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Chuck Hartke, who spent more than 18 years as
7 State Representative from the 108th District in the Illinois
8 House of Representatives, and became director of the Illinois
9 Department of Agriculture in 2003, is stepping down from his
10 position to take care of family needs; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Mr. Hartke has been active in public service for
12 most of his life, first by valiantly serving his country in the
13 United States Army from 1966 until 1968, including a tour in
14 Vietnam; he served on the Effingham County Board from 1970 to
15 1974, was elected Secretary of the Democratic Central Committee
16 in 1976, and was elected as Effingham County Democratic Central
17 Committee Chairman from 1978 to 1985; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Mr. Hartke, a former president of the Effingham
19 County Pork Producers, served in the Illinois House of
20 Representatives starting in 1985; he was confirmed by the
21 Illinois Senate on May 16, 2003 to oversee the Illinois
22 Department of Agriculture; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, As Director, Mr. Hartke supported the expansion of
2 livestock in the State, worked to expand the biofuels industry,
3 including ethanol, biodiesel, and biomass, strengthened
4 relations with foreign trading partners, supported specialty
5 crop and diversified agriculture operations, and worked to
6 protect the State food supply; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Mr. Hartke promoted both the State and county
8 fairs while serving as Director; he serves as president of the
9 Midwest Association of State Departments of Agriculture and a
10 board member of the National Association of State Departments
11 of Agriculture; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Mr. Hartke is active in his community, as a member
13 of St. Francis Parish, the Knights of Columbus, the American
14 Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Association
15 of Retired Persons, the Farm Bureau, and the Farmer's Union;
16 and
 
17     WHEREAS, His family is still actively involved in farming,
18 with his son renting Mr. Hartke's 800-acre farm; Mr. Hartke, in
19 his own words, plans to do something less strenuous, like being
20 a professional golfer or a consultant; therefore, be it
 
21     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

 

 

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1 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
2 wish Chuck Hartke the best for both him and his family and
3 thank him for his years of service to the people of the State
4 of Illinois; and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6 presented to Chuck Hartke as a symbol of our respect and
7 esteem.