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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
our esteemed colleague, former Illinois 
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Representative and Senator Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz, who 
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passed away on January 5, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was born on December 20, 1938; after 
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graduating from Weber High School, he worked in a butcher shop 
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to put himself through college, receiving an associate's degree 
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from Wright Junior College and then a bachelor's degree in 
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economics from North Park College in 1960; he then performed 
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some graduate work at DePaul University; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz served his country with pride and 
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distinction as a member of the United States Army as the 
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Commander of Company A, 108 Supply and Transportation Battalion 
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of the 33rd Division; he later served in the United States Army 
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National Guard, achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After graduating from college, Ted Lechowicz went 
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to work as a systems analyst for the Cook County Circuit 
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Courts; at the same time, he worked with the Democratic Party 
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as a precinct captain; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was elected to the Illinois General 
 


 






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Assembly in 1969, serving the people as Representative of 
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Illinois' 17th Representative District; rising rapidly through 
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the ranks, he served as Assistant Majority Leader during the 
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81st General Assembly and Assistant Minority Leader during the 
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82nd General Assembly; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1983, Ted Lechowicz was elected to serve the 
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people as Senator of Illinois' 6th Legislative District; once 
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again displaying his natural aptitude for leadership, he rose 
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through the ranks, serving as Assistant Majority Leader until 
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his retirement in 1992; and

 
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    WHEREAS, During his tenure in the Senate, Ted Lechowicz 
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served on many committees, including the Appropriations I, 
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Executive, Executive Appointments and Veterans' Affairs, State 
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Government Organization and Administration, and Transportation 
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committees; he served as vice-chairman of the Elections and 
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Reapportionment committee and served on the Economic and Fiscal 
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Commission and the Legislative Space Needs Commission; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1990, Ted Lechowicz was elected to  the Cook 
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County Board of Commissioners, serving until 2002; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was a member of numerous community 
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organizations, including the Polish National Alliance, the 
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Chicago Society, the Moose Lodge, the Knights of Columbus, the 
 


 






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Holy Name Society, Felician College, and the Lockwood 
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Improvement Association; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was the recipient of numerous awards 
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from organizations such as the Young Democrats of Illinois, the 
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Polish American Police Association of Chicago, the Veterans of 
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Foreign Wars, the AFL-CIO, the United Polish American Council, 
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the Copernicus Foundation, the Wisla S.A.C., the Better Boys 
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Foundation, and the Northwest Lions; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz is survived by his wife of 44 years, 
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Suzanne; his son, Edward; and his four grandchildren; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz will be remembered by his former 
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colleagues, former constituents, and loved ones as a forceful 
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and effective legislator and as a warm and caring man; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his  family and friends, the passing of our former colleague, 
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Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz; and be it further

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