HR0270 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0270 LRB095 11794 KXB 34774 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans will present its annual "Dante Award" on May 17, 2007 to Ron Magers, news anchor and reporter for ABC 7 in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Ron Magers is the co-anchor, along with Kelly Brock, of the number one rated and most watched newscast in Chicago; he also co-anchors the 5:00 p.m. news with Cheryl Burton, also a top rated program; he joined ABC 7 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Magers is also heard on WLS Radio 890 weekdays from 3:00 to 3:20, giving his perspective on what is happening around the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Before working for ABC 7, he worked as the anchor of the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts on WMAQ-TV; before that he worked as the principal news anchor at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota; he has also worked as a reporter and anchor in San Francisco, California and Portland, Oregon; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Magers began his career at KEZI-TV in Eugene, Oregon as a reporter and news anchor; he began gaining experience in high school in Toppenish, Washington, where he hosted radio shows part-time; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Magers has won several awards, including seven Chicago Emmy Awards, a Peter Lisagor Award, a National Press Club citation, an Associated Press Award, an Illinois Broadcasters Association award, the Ohio State Award, and an Ethics Award from the Society of Professional Journalists; and

WHEREAS, Ron Magers is a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artist; he supports Heartland Alliance, Baseball Cancer Charities, Northwestern University Settlement House, Howard Brown Health Care, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository; and

WHEREAS, His hobbies include boating, as well as breeding and racing Thoroughbred horses; and

WHEREAS, Ron Magers is married and lives in the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The Dante Award is given by the Joint Civic Committee on Italian Americans in order to recognize positive contributions being made by a person in the communications field who helps foster the true image of Italian people; it is given annually to a member of the fourth estate who best exemplifies Dante's edict to be no timid friend to truth; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ron Magers on being named the recipient of the 2007 Dante Award, presented by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, for his dedication, service, and inspiration in the field of news reporting; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ron Magers with our respect and esteem.