SR1242 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Ronald Wilson Reagan "Dutch" (1911-2004), the 40th President of the United States, is the only U.S. President born, raised, and educated in the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico; his family lived for a time in Chicago, Galesburg, and Monmouth, before settling in Dixon; he earned his degree in economics and sociology from Eureka College in Central Illinois in 1932; after college, he started as a radio sports announcer in the Quad Cities; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan moved to Hollywood and achieved success as a film and television actor, union president for the Screen Actors Guild, and as corporate spokesman for General Electric; he moved into politics and spent 2 terms as Governor of California (1967-1975) and 2 terms as President of the United States (1981-1989); and

WHEREAS, President Reagan returned to his home State throughout every stage of his life; he visited his birthplace, his hometown, and his alma mater, Eureka College; he never forgot his Illinois and Midwestern roots; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan's connection to Illinois is celebrated all over the State; Eureka College is home to "Reagan Forward" and the Ronald W. Reagan Society, whose national membership helps fund scholarships for Reagan Fellows, a museum, a peace garden, a speaker series, a Run with Reagan 5k, and the Mark R. Shenkman Reagan Research Center, housing every book on the 40th President; Dixon is home to the Reagan Boyhood Home and the Dixon Historic Center, a riverfront statue of him on a horse, the First Christian Church where he was baptized, an annual festival, and the beach at Lowell Park where he was a lifeguard; Tampico operates a museum and historic site where visitors can stand in the apartment flat where he was born and see a statue of him as a boy; a section of Interstate 88 is named in his honor, and The Reagan Trail is a designated tourism corridor connecting key points of his Illinois experience; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan is remembered as one of the most consequential world leaders of the 20th century; his commitment to peace through strength helped in the defeat of the Soviet Union, thus ending the Cold War and bringing greater freedom to millions of people; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and honor the impact President Ronald Reagan had on the State, the country, and the world; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we request the Architect of the Capitol place a statue of President Reagan in the Illinois State Capitol Building or on the surrounding grounds; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the statue shall be funded with private donations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Architect of the Capitol.