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1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The State of Illinois' historical roots as the | ||||||
3 | agricultural heartland of the United States of America still | ||||||
4 | greatly influence the everyday lives of all Illinoisans; and
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5 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
6 | Representatives take great pride in recognizing the remarkable | ||||||
7 | talent and historic accomplishments of our state's citizenry; | ||||||
8 | and
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9 | WHEREAS, Orion Samuelson has been an iconic voice on | ||||||
10 | Illinois radio waves for more than 50 years; and | ||||||
11 | WHEREAS, Orion Samuelson was born on a working dairy farm | ||||||
12 | in Wisconsin's Kickapoo Valley and has imbued more than a | ||||||
13 | half-century of broadcasts with the sights, sounds, and stories | ||||||
14 | of his rural Ontario, Wisconsin upbringing; and
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15 | WHEREAS, Orion Samuelson's vocal talent grew prodigiously | ||||||
16 | from the soil of a childhood illness; and
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17 | WHEREAS, Orion Samuelson began his career in broadcasting | ||||||
18 | as a polka disc jockey in Sparta, Wisconsin, but moved to | ||||||
19 | Illinois to take the air for WGN in 1960, and has called our | ||||||
20 | great State home ever since; and |
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1 | WHEREAS, Orion and his wife, Gloria Samuelson, remain close | ||||||
2 | to the communities of Orion's past, residing in Huntley at the | ||||||
3 | frontier between Chicagoland and our State's magnificent | ||||||
4 | farmland; and
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5 | WHEREAS, Orion Samuelson has produced and hosted a diverse | ||||||
6 | array of shows in his 54 years at WGN Radio and, for his 39 | ||||||
7 | years as host of "U.S. Farm Report" and "This Week in | ||||||
8 | Agribusiness", is recognized nationally as the "rock star" of | ||||||
9 | agricultural journalism; and
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10 | WHEREAS, In honor of his achievements as a broadcaster and | ||||||
11 | agricultural advocate, Orion Samuelson has received the | ||||||
12 | Lincoln Medal, the State of Illinois' highest honor, and has | ||||||
13 | been inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, the | ||||||
14 | National 4-H Hall of Fame, the National Association of Farm | ||||||
15 | Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and the National Radio Hall of Fame; | ||||||
16 | and | ||||||
17 | WHEREAS, Orion Samuelson continues to play an active part | ||||||
18 | in local events throughout McHenry County, most notably as | ||||||
19 | emcee of Harvard's Milk Days celebration; and
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20 | WHEREAS, In recognition of Orion Samuelson's extraordinary | ||||||
21 | life, career, and contributions to our communities, WGN is |
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1 | erecting a 'Walk of Fame' that will include a monument to Mr. | ||||||
2 | Samuelson to be placed prominently before the station's | ||||||
3 | headquarters in Chicago; therefore, be it
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4 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
5 | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
6 | we congratulate Orion Samuelson on his recent milestone | ||||||
7 | birthday and the new monument recognizing his lifetime of | ||||||
8 | exceptional achievement; and be it further
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9 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
10 | presented to Orion and Gloria Samuelson as a symbol of our | ||||||
11 | esteem and respect.
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