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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The General Assembly takes pride in recognizing
3 the accomplishments and contributions of Illinois citizens;
4 and
 
5     WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan was a visionary and pioneer of
6 the Angus breed of cattle; and
 
7     WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan was a President of the American
8 Angus Association and an inductee into the National Cattlemen's
9 Hall of Fame; and
 
10     WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan's son John J. Tolan began working
11 in the family business of breeding Angus show cattle before he
12 started elementary school; and
 
13     WHEREAS, As a young teen, John J. Tolan received a national
14 award, sponsored by Firestone Rubber Company, which recognized
15 the most promising agricultural youth in the country; and
 
16     WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan's son John J. Tolan was a master
17 breeder of multiple breeds of horses and cattle, but will
18 likely be best remembered for his influence on the Angus cattle
19 business; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, The cattle and show circuit were John's life, and
2 each year the main focus was to do well at the Chicago
3 International, the world's premiere show for Angus cattle; and
 
4     WHEREAS, At the Chicago International, Tolan Farms showed
5 102 class winners and 85 Champions, bred 15 International Grand
6 Champions, and exhibited 10 Best Ten Head groups; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The Tolan career record for Angus at all shows
8 totaled 845 class winners and 385 Champions; and
 
9     WHEREAS, In 1951, Tolan Farms set a world record sale,
10 which was the record sales price per head not only for Angus
11 cattle, but also for livestock of any description, including
12 Thoroughbred racehorses; and
 
13     WHEREAS, John J. Tolan served as a Director of the American
14 Angus Association for 6 years; and
 
15     WHEREAS, John J. Tolan received many national honors and
16 was voted by his peers as the number one breeder/judge of Angus
17 cattle in the nation for 4 consecutive years; and
 
18     WHEREAS, John J. Tolan exhibited and judged Angus cattle at
19 nearly every top tier show in North America; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, John J. Tolan exhibited world and national
2 champions of countless breeds and raced quarter horses and
3 thoroughbreds for decades; and
 
4     WHEREAS, John J. Tolan could evaluate an animal's
5 conformation in a split second and possessed a nearly
6 photographic memory for both livestock and pedigrees; and
 
7     WHEREAS, John J. Tolan always loved that the livestock
8 industry afforded one the opportunity to do business with and
9 become friends with many interesting people; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Although John was widely viewed as a master
11 breeder of livestock and was highly regarded, he was a modest
12 man that deflected most praise that came his way; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The Tolans' immense contribution to Illinois
14 agriculture and the development of Angus cattle should be
15 recognized, and they deserve to have their achievements noted
16 and remembered by current and future generations; therefore, be
17 it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
20 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Barn 13 at the
21 Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield as the J. Garrett and

 

 

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1 John J. Tolan Barn in recognition of the contributions of J.
2 Garrett and John Tolan to agriculture in the State; and be it
3 further
 
4     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5 presented to the Director of Agriculture and the Director of
6 Central Management Services.