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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Richard Wilson McVinnie
4on the occasion of his retirement from the Rockford Mass
5Transit District (RMTD) after 43 years of service; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Richard McVinnie has lived in Rockford and Loves
7Park his entire life; he started his career with the RMTD as a
8mechanics helper on January 22, 1975; he has held several other
9positions at RMTD, including mechanic, Maintenance Manager,
10and, for the last 25 years, Executive Director; and
 
11    WHEREAS, During Richard McVinnie's service to the District
12and the citizens of Rockford, he is credited with many
13improvements and advancements, which include the
14implementation of night service in 1995, incorporating
15Winnebago County Paratransit Service into Rockford Paratransit
16Service under the RMTD umbrella, starting Sunday service,
17overseeing the integration of ADA requirements into a fleet of
1840 fixed route vehicles, building the East Side Transfer
19Center, and most recently the renovation of the flagship
20downtown Transfer Center; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Under Rick McVinnie's direction, RMTD has grown
22from serving 11 routes in the city of Rockford to 18 routes

 

 

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1encompassing much of the Northern Illinois region, including
2Loves Park, Machesney Park, and Belvidere; he was also
3instrumental in the start-up of the Stateline Mass Transit
4District in Roscoe, Rockton, South Beloit, Rockton Township,
5and Roscoe Township; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Richard McVinnie has served as a member of the
7Illinois Public Transportation Association Board (IPTA) and
8has advocated for transit improvements throughout his career;
9through the IPTA, he and his staff have hosted two IPTA
10conferences in Rockford in the last 15 years showcasing all
11that Rockford has to offer and bringing visitor revenue to the
12city; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Richard McVinnie is a 1973 graduate of Harlem High
14School; he married his high school sweetheart, Susan McVinnie,
15in 1974 and has been happily married for 44 years; they have
16two children, Jessica and Matthew, and five grandchildren;
17therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
20congratulate Richard Wilson McVinnie on his retirement from the
21Rockford Mass Transit District after 43 years of service; and
22be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
2presented to Richard McVinnie and the RMTD as a symbol of our
3respect and esteem.