HR0514 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0514 LRB103 35437 LAW 65504 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Rich Clemmons on the occasion of his retirement after working on behalf of the agriculture and ethanol industries for the past 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Rich Clemmons has been a tireless advocate for farmers, representing their interests in Springfield and helping to promote the number one industry in our State; over the years, his work on ethanol issues was instrumental in helping the industry grow in Illinois and increasing demand for corn across the State; and

WHEREAS, Despite not growing up on a farm in Illinois, Rich Clemmons became passionate about agriculture in part because of his family's legacy in tobacco production in Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, In 1977, Rich Clemmons was a member of the team that supported and passed the Illinois Farmland Assessment Act, which allowed agricultural land in Illinois to be taxed on its productivity and soil type instead of its price; he also played a role in the creation of the Illinois Corn Marketing Act, which created the Illinois Corn Checkoff Program; and

WHEREAS, Rich Clemmons helped secure funding to develop the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a fully integrated, nationally recognized research facility that is dedicated to the development and commercialization of biotechnologies and, through its contractual research services, has played an instrumental role in commercializing more than 80 products that are now used in the commercial marketplace; and

WHEREAS, Over of the course of his professional career, Rich Clemmons has always had the loving support of his wife, Gretchen, and his children, Sarah, Erin, and Chris; regarding his retirement, he has expressed that he is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Rich Clemmons on his retirement, thank him for his service to the agriculture and ethanol industries and farmers in the State of Illinois for the past 50 years, and wish him success in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Rich Clemmons as an expression of our esteem and respect.