HR1584 LRB095 22686 KXB 53321 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate Merri Dee,
4 director of community relations and manager of WGN-TV
5 Children's Charities, on her retirement; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Merri Dee will lend her noteworthy talents,
7 experiences, and contacts to a variety of businesses, from
8 Fortune 500 companies to community organizations, as a
9 consultant; and
 
10     WHEREAS, For 37 years, Merri Dee has held a number of high
11 profile positions at WGN-TV, from newscaster, talk-show host,
12 staff announcer, and editorial spokesperson, before moving
13 into the management ranks in her current position; she has also
14 hosted countless parades, telethons, and TV specials; and
 
15     WHEREAS, She has shared camera time and stages around the
16 world with the likes of Lou Rawls, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones,
17 Oprah Winfrey, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Mac, Tom Joyner, Ed
18 McMahon, Frank Sinatra, and literally hundreds of other
19 well-known entertainers and personalities; and
 
20     WHEREAS, She is a recipient of many awards honoring her
21 broadcasting experience, including the Silver Circle "Lifetime

 

 

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1 Achievement Award" presented by the Chicago Academy of TV Arts
2 and Sciences, the national "Gracie Allen Award' by the National
3 Association of American Women in Radio and TV, and the
4 "Adoption Excellence Award' by the U.S. Secretary of Health and
5 Human Services; and
 
6     WHEREAS, As manager of WGN-TV Children's Charities, a fund
7 of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, she raised over $30
8 million for various children's organizations in Chicago and
9 made the welfare of children waiting to be adopted in Illinois
10 her personal project; and
 
11     WHEREAS, A strong believer in education, Merri Dee has also
12 hosted the United Negro College Fund's "Evening of Stars" for
13 30 years, serving two years as the volunteer general chairman
14 of the nationally televised event; she is the co-founder of
15 Athletes For Better Education (AFBE), an academic, athletic
16 program, where graduates like Coach Terry Cummings, Doc Rivers,
17 Tony Brown, and others received academic support, guidance, and
18 motivation toward reaching their goals as professional
19 athletes; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Merri Dee serves on the boards of several
21 organizations including: Ronald McDonald House Charities,
22 Associated Colleges of Illinois, Adoptions Unlimited, Junior
23 Achievement, the Chinese American Service League, and the board

 

 

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1 of the Illinois Council of AARP; and
 
2     WHEREAS, On July 17, 1971 Merri Dee was kidnapped and
3 almost murdered by a stalker; when this happened she was given
4 last rites, but she survived, overcoming paralysis and
5 blindness, and she was inspired by her second chance in life;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, She continues to serve on the Illinois Attorney
8 General's Violent Crime Victims Commission and the States
9 Attorney's Advisory Council on violence; most recently she was
10 confirmed by the Chicago City Council as a member of the
11 Mayor's Advisory Council on Women and appointed through the
12 Pentagon as a United States Army Ambassador; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Merri Dee is married to Nicholas Fulop and has one
14 daughter, Toya Campbell; therefore, be it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
17 congratulate Merri Dee on her retirement and wish her the best
18 in all her future endeavors; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to Merri Dee and WGN-TV as a symbol of our sincere
21 respect.