HR0208 LRB094 11703 CSA 43540 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives congratulate Francis and Anita Bowers of
4 Lovington on their retirements from the Moultrie Independent
5 Telephone Company; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Since July 1, 1975, Francis and Anita Bowers have
7 owned and operated the Moultrie Independent Telephone Company
8 (Company) along with their sons, Steven, David, and Stuart; the
9 Bowers also have a daughter, Suzie McCloy; Francis and Anita
10 Bowers have been married for 58 years; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Through the years, the Company has continued to
12 make improvements and add services for residents of Lovington
13 and the surrounding area; the Company has been a member of the
14 Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small
15 Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO) for approximately 40
16 years; Francis Bowers served as Treasurer for this national
17 organization from 1980 to 1986; it was during this time that
18 OPASTCO moved its national headquarters from Chicago to
19 Washington D.C., and Mr. Bowers spent several years shuttling
20 back and forth between Lovington and Washington D.C. to assist
21 in this transition and to fulfill his duties as Treasurer; he
22 also served as Treasurer of the Illinois Independent Telephone
23 Association from March 2, 1971 to December 4, 2003; and
 
24     WHEREAS, In 1980, the cable TV provider, Moultrie
25 Telecommunications, was established; in May of 1990, a digital
26 switch was installed which had the capacity to provide 12,000
27 lines and 16,000 numbers; in July of 1996, Moultrie InfoComm
28 was established to provide long-distance telephone service to
29 Lovington customers; in October of 1996, One-Eleven Internet
30 Services was established to provide dial-up and broadband
31 Internet service to customers in Central Illinois; and
 

 

 

HR0208 - 2 - LRB094 11703 CSA 43540 r

1     WHEREAS, Francis and Anita Bowers are longtime members of
2 the Lovington First United Methodist Church; Mr. Bowers served
3 as mayor of Lovington from 1968 to 1972; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Anita Bowers retired on December 31, 2004, and
5 Francis Bowers retired on February 2, 2005, his 80th birthday;
6 therefore, be it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9 we wish Francis and Anita Bowers well in their retirement and
10 commend them for their many years of dedicated and progressive
11 service to the telephone industry and to the customers of
12 Moultrie Independent Telephone Company; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to Francis and Anita Bowers as an expression of our
15 admiration and esteem.