HR0582 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0582 LRB094 12956 HSS 47987 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Chief Jeff Waite has retired as Chief of the Sullivan Fire Protection District; and

WHEREAS, In his position, Chief Waite has worked closely with government officials to secure around $700,000 worth of grants to upgrade and modernize the Sullivan Fire Protection District; under his leadership the department was approved as a training facility in 1991; in 1992, the department received a TIF grant to computerize the department; the same year, he was appointed vice-president of the Central Illinois Fire Chief's Association; in 1995, he was elected to serve as an area representative for the Illinois Fire Chief's Association, and he was elected President of the Central Illinois Fire Chief's Association in 1998, a position he held through 2004; and

WHEREAS, He also served as Director for the Illinois Fire Chief's Association for one year, was appointed to the Illinois State Fire Chief's Funeral Committee, and served on a committee for the first Illinois Volunteer Fire Service Summit; he was appointed to the Illinois Terrorism Task Force to study Statewide Communications and was re-elected to serve as the Illinois Fire Chief's Association Director; he also served on the Illinois Terrorism IEMA Region 17 Task Force (Mass Casualty & Haz Mat Decontamination), on the Moultrie County Kellogg Farm Safety Project as a committee member, on the Lake Shelbyville Safety Committee, and as a MABAS Division 26 Officer (State Mutual Aid); and

WHEREAS, Throughout his entire career, he has received several commendations including the Life Saving Award for a Texas State Trooper from the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Department of Public Safety Region Commander's Award in 1999, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Life Saving Award, the George A. Sentel Lodge 764 Community Builder's Award, and he was nominated for the Illinois Fire Chief's Association "Fire Chief of the Year" Award in 2003; and

WHEREAS, Chief Waite is married to Linda and is the father of Casey and the stepfather of Heather and Chad; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Chief Jeff Waite on the occasion of his retirement as Chief of the Sullivan Fire Protection District; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Chief Waite as an expression of our gratitude for his role in the protection of the citizens of the State of Illinois and with best wishes for a relaxing retirement.