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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate John W. Wilson on the
4occasion of his retirement as Director of the Lan-Oak Park
5District; and
 
6    WHEREAS, John Wilson's very first job was as a golf caddie
7at Danville Country Club at the age of ten; he thoroughly
8enjoyed the parks and recreation field at an early age; and
 
9    WHEREAS, John Wilson attended Illinois State University,
10majoring in Recreation and Park Administration; soon after
11graduation, he took a job as a Recreation Planner at the
12Danville Park District; and
 
13    WHEREAS, John Wilson was employed as Director of Parks and
14Recreation at Chicago Ridge Park District and Grayslake Park
15District; and
 
16    WHEREAS, During John Wilson's tenure, he received the
17President's Award in 1985 while at Chicago Ridge; he also
18initiated Grayslake's first ever park development program; and
 
19    WHEREAS, John Wilson continued his work until he was called
20to serve as Superintendent of the LaGrange Park District for

 

 

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1two years; and
 
2    WHEREAS, John Wilson was one of the founding fathers of the
3Southwest Special Recreation Association; and
 
4    WHEREAS, During his parks and recreation career, John
5Wilson received grants for more than $26 million in park
6improvements; he was also awarded DePaul University's Chaddick
7Institute Award for Metropolitan Development; and
 
8    WHEREAS, John Wilson ended his career with 17 years as
9Director of Parks and Recreation at Lan-Oak Park District in
10Lansing; and
 
11    WHEREAS, While serving as Director of Parks and Recreation
12at Lan-Oak Park District, John Wilson renovated the Eisenhower
13Recreation and Fitness Center and spearheaded the Pennsey
14Greenway bike path running from Calumet City to Indiana; and
 
15    WHEREAS, John Wilson negotiated land donations from
16developers exceeding $6 million for new parks and acquisition
17of a private swimming pool funding by the Illinois Build
18Program; and
 
19    WHEREAS, John Wilson is an active member of the Illinois
20Parks and Recreation Foundation Board, the South Suburban Park

 

 

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1and Recreation Professional Association, the Save a Life
2Foundation, the PADS Homeless Shelter, the Parks and Recreation
3Advisory Commission, the Chicago Southland Convention and
4Visitors Bureau's Sports Commission, and many others; and
 
5    WHEREAS, John Wilson retired from public service in April
6of 2016 after more than 30 years of service; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
9congratulate Director John W. Wilson on the occasion of his
10retirement and thank him for his years of dedication and
11service to the communities he has helped throughout his career;
12and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to
14the John Wilson as a token of our respect.