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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of our esteemed colleague, former Illinois
4 Representative and Senator Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz, who
5 passed away on January 5, 2009; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was born on December 20, 1938; after
7 graduating from Weber High School, he worked in a butcher shop
8 to put himself through college, receiving an associate's degree
9 from Wright Junior College and then a bachelor's degree in
10 economics from North Park College in 1960; he then performed
11 some graduate work at DePaul University; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz served his country with pride and
13 distinction as a member of the United States Army as the
14 Commander of Company A, 108 Supply and Transportation Battalion
15 of the 33rd Division; he later served in the United States Army
16 National Guard, achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant; and
 
17     WHEREAS, After graduating from college, Ted Lechowicz went
18 to work as a systems analyst for the Cook County Circuit
19 Courts; at the same time, he worked with the Democratic Party
20 as a precinct captain; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was elected to the Illinois General

 

 

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1 Assembly in 1969, serving the people as Representative of
2 Illinois' 17th Representative District; rising rapidly through
3 the ranks, he served as Assistant Majority Leader during the
4 81st General Assembly and Assistant Minority Leader during the
5 82nd General Assembly; and
 
6     WHEREAS, In 1983, Ted Lechowicz was elected to serve the
7 people as Senator of Illinois' 6th Legislative District; once
8 again displaying his natural aptitude for leadership, he rose
9 through the ranks, serving as Assistant Majority Leader until
10 his retirement in 1992; and
 
11     WHEREAS, During his tenure in the Senate, Ted Lechowicz
12 served on many committees, including the Appropriations I,
13 Executive, Executive Appointments and Veterans' Affairs, State
14 Government Organization and Administration, and Transportation
15 committees; he served as vice-chairman of the Elections and
16 Reapportionment committee and served on the Economic and Fiscal
17 Commission and the Legislative Space Needs Commission; and
 
18     WHEREAS, In 1990, Ted Lechowicz was elected to the Cook
19 County Board of Commissioners, serving until 2002; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was a member of numerous community
21 organizations, including the Polish National Alliance, the
22 Chicago Society, the Moose Lodge, the Knights of Columbus, the

 

 

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1 Holy Name Society, Felician College, and the Lockwood
2 Improvement Association; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was the recipient of numerous awards
4 from organizations such as the Young Democrats of Illinois, the
5 Polish American Police Association of Chicago, the Veterans of
6 Foreign Wars, the AFL-CIO, the United Polish American Council,
7 the Copernicus Foundation, the Wisla S.A.C., the Better Boys
8 Foundation, and the Northwest Lions; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz is survived by his wife of 44 years,
10 Suzanne; his son, Edward; and his four grandchildren; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz will be remembered by his former
12 colleagues, former constituents, and loved ones as a forceful
13 and effective legislator and as a warm and caring man;
14 therefore, be it
 
15     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
16 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
17 his family and friends, the passing of our former colleague,
18 Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to the family of Ted Lechowicz as an expression of
21 our sympathy.