HR0922 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0922 LRB101 22526 MST 73613 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Boyd A. McCracken for receiving the 2020 Rural Physician of Excellence Award from the Illinois Rural Health Association; and

WHEREAS, One of the biggest healthcare challenges across our nation is the shortage of physicians who practice in rural settings; and

WHEREAS, Growing up in Greenville with uncles and a grandfather who were dentists and a father who was a family practice physician, Dr. McCracken saw firsthand the significant impact medical providers can make in the well-being of a rural community; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McCracken graduated from Millikin University in 1969 and stayed at the university to serve as director of Millikin's biology laboratories through 1970; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McCracken graduated from the Chicago Medical School in 1974 and completed his family practice residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine-affiliated hospitals in Springfield in 1977; and

WHEREAS, In 1977, Dr. McCracken returned to his roots and joined Five Provider Family Practice in Greenville; he was granted privileges at Utlaut Memorial Hospital, which later became HSHS Holy Family Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Through the years, Dr. McCracken was a medical jack-of-all-trades and Renaissance man to his community; he delivered babies, assisted in surgeries, and worked as an emergency room physician, all while serving as president of the medical staff, serving on numerous state and local boards, and attending to the regular day-to-day care he provided pediatric through geriatric patients in his office practice; and

WHEREAS, Dr. McCracken selflessly served as a mentor to many new physicians and nurse practitioners offering them support and compassion, which guided the way they would serve their patients throughout their careers; and

WHEREAS, When not practicing medicine, Dr. McCracken is a distinguished dessert connoisseur, well known for his exquisite taste in Snickers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Boyd A. McCracken for receiving the 2020 Rural Physician of Excellence Award and commend him for his compassion and dedication to his patients and for filling such a tremendous void in rural medicine over the past 43 years in Bond County; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. McCracken as a symbol of our respect and esteem.