HR1665

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Ray Harris on the 
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occasion of his retirement from AFSCME Council 31; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ray Harris has served as Director of 
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Intergovernmental Affairs of AFSCME Council 31 since June of 
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1987; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In his more than 20 years as a lobbyist, Ray 
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Harris has not only served the interests of AFSCME members 
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employed by Cook County with dedication, he has become one of 
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the most well-known and well-respected union lobbyists of the 
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Cook County Board; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ray Harris has served the interests of all the 
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residents of Cook County in his efforts to preserve access to 
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public health care; and

 
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    WHEREAS, A Chicago native, Ray Harris was raised on the 
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West Side of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ray Harris began his career with AFSCME as an 
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International union organizer in 1985 to work on a campaign to 
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organize Cook County employees; he was then hired by AFSCME 
 


 






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Council 31 as a lobbyist in 1986; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Prior to his association with AFSCME, Ray Harris 
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worked at International Harvester, beginning on the shop floor 
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in 1970; he became a union steward in 1971, was elected 
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Alternate Committeeman in 1974, and then elected Committeeman 
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in 1979, a position he kept until he left Harvester in 1984; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ray Harris has never forgotten that working men 
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and women need a voice; he has spoken just as passionately for 
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their interests in the halls of power in Cook County as he did 
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on the shop floor; and
 
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    WHEREAS, While Ray Harris, to whom no one is ever a 
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stranger, will be missed by his peers, his retirement will give 
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him more time to devote to his family, especially his beautiful 
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and supportive wife of 39 years, Mimi Harris, and his beloved 
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granddaughter, Rayven Harris; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Ray Harris on the occasion of his retirement and 
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wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it 
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further

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Ray Harris as a symbol of our esteem and respect.