HJ0128 LRB094 20414 HSS 58667 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Carl
4 Nels Becker of Petersburg on April 13, 2006; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born on June 8, 1949, in Sheboygan,
6 Wisconsin, to Elmer Becker and Amy Nora Truesdale; he married
7 Peggy Parks on July 31, 1971, in Black Creek, Wisconsin; he
8 held a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of
9 Wisconsin at Stevens Point and a master's degree in ornithology
10 from Eastern Michigan University; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Mr. Becker worked as the Associate State Director
12 for Conservation Programs for the Illinois Chapter of the
13 Nature Conservancy; he held several positions within the
14 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR); he was the
15 first Executive Director of the Illinois Endangered Species
16 Protection Board, the first Chief of the Division of Natural
17 Heritage, and served as Assistant Office Director of Realty and
18 Environmental Planning, before his retirement in December
19 2002; and
 
20     WHEREAS, He began working at IDNR in 1978 as a biologist
21 and quickly became a leader; during his tenure at IDNR, he
22 spearheaded the effort to create the Wildlife Preservation
23 Fund, an income tax check-off program that provides money for
24 wildlife habitats; he also worked to pass legislation
25 allocating a portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax to protect
26 natural areas and habitats for endangered and threatened
27 species; he played a critical role in conserving natural
28 habitats from Cook County to the Cache River State Natural
29 Area, laden with cypress trees, in the southernmost tip of
30 Illinois; he also was instrumental in efforts to save the
31 dwindling territory of the prairie chicken in southern Illinois
32 and to encourage peregrine falcons to roost among the Chicago

 

 

HJ0128 - 2 - LRB094 20414 HSS 58667 r

1 Loop's skyscrapers; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Mr. Becker was a national leader in conservation
3 issues, serving as Illinois representative with the
4 International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to push
5 for the Teaming with Wildlife Initiative; he was the past
6 president of the Natural Areas Association and was a member of
7 several conservation organizations; and
 
8     WHEREAS, In addition to his work to protect Illinois
9 natural areas, he was a leader in his community, serving as
10 President of the Lake Petersburg Association and Chair of the
11 Menard County Zoning Board of Appeals; a member of Petersburg
12 United Methodist Church, he was active in his church, serving
13 on the board of trustees; he also served as a Cub Scout leader
14 and coached youth soccer, softball, and baseball; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The passing of Carl Nels Becker has been deeply
16 felt by many, especially his wife, Peggy Becker; his sons,
17 Jason Becker and Jared Becker; his daughter, Jenifer Becker;
18 and his sister, Jane Kesting; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
21 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we mourn the passing of Carl
22 Nels Becker, who will be remembered as a champion for the
23 environment, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family,
24 friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest
27 condolences and the sorrow that we share in this great loss.