HR1665 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1665 LRB095 23231 GRL 53889 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Ray Harris on the occasion of his retirement from AFSCME Council 31; and

WHEREAS, Ray Harris has served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs of AFSCME Council 31 since June of 1987; and

WHEREAS, In his more than 20 years as a lobbyist, Ray Harris has not only served the interests of AFSCME members employed by Cook County with dedication, he has become one of the most well-known and well-respected union lobbyists of the Cook County Board; and

WHEREAS, Ray Harris has served the interests of all the residents of Cook County in his efforts to preserve access to public health care; and

WHEREAS, A Chicago native, Ray Harris was raised on the West Side of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Ray Harris began his career with AFSCME as an International union organizer in 1985 to work on a campaign to organize Cook County employees; he was then hired by AFSCME Council 31 as a lobbyist in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Prior to his association with AFSCME, Ray Harris worked at International Harvester, beginning on the shop floor in 1970; he became a union steward in 1971, was elected Alternate Committeeman in 1974, and then elected Committeeman in 1979, a position he kept until he left Harvester in 1984; and

WHEREAS, Ray Harris has never forgotten that working men and women need a voice; he has spoken just as passionately for their interests in the halls of power in Cook County as he did on the shop floor; and

WHEREAS, While Ray Harris, to whom no one is ever a stranger, will be missed by his peers, his retirement will give him more time to devote to his family, especially his beautiful and supportive wife of 39 years, Mimi Harris, and his beloved granddaughter, Rayven Harris; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ray Harris on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

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