SR0982 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0982 LRB095 23285 KXB 53984 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, William E. Peterson has represented the citizens of Lake County and northeastern Illinois with distinction in the General Assembly for more than 26 years; and

WHEREAS, He has served with honor in the Senate since 1993, after five terms in the House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Senator Peterson's priorities have always been those of the people he represents, local government, education, business development and job creation, and lower taxes; and

WHEREAS, He became a lawmaker to make the State of Illinois a better place to live, bringing State government from the marble halls of the Capitol back home to the communities of northeastern Illinois; and

WHEREAS, His deep concern for veterans and our armed forces led him to sponsor numerous measures to assist Illinois veterans, including the "Let Them Rest in Peace Act"; and

WHEREAS, His concern for education and child safety prompted him to sponsor measures to assist and protect children, including the requirement that buses have safety arms on the front bumper, the Round Lake Unit District 116 School Finance Authority legislation, and legislation that would spotlight outstanding teachers and provide the best educational support for students; and

WHEREAS, He has sponsored laws helping senior citizens, including expanding the Circuit Breaker program; and

WHEREAS, He has always recognized the need to balance the best interests of the public and the conflicting views of all parties, as seen in his sponsorship of legislation that started early voting in Illinois, so everyone is given ample opportunity to vote; and

WHEREAS, He has always been a strong supporter of open spaces, making sure that the residents of his district for generations to come would have the opportunity to enjoy open space, forest preserves and recreational areas; and

WHEREAS, He served as Chairman of the Senate Revenue Committee from 1995 through 2002, helping to guide sound fiscal public policy that impacted everyone in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, He was selected to serve as Assistant Senate Republican Leader in 2003; and

WHEREAS, He most recently served as Republican Spokesman of the Senate Housing and Community Affairs Committee, as a member of the Senate Insurance Committee, the Senate Licensed Activities Committee, the Senate Local Government Committee, the Senate State Government and Veterans Committee, and the Legislative Ethics Commission; and

WHEREAS, A number of local and State organizations have honored William Peterson for his efforts in the General Assembly, including the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois School Board Association, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Park District Association, the Township Officials of Illinois, the Northern Illinois Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, the Omni Youth Services, and the Illinois Environmental Council; and

WHEREAS, William Peterson has been involved in local civic and educational organizations, including the Long Grove Lions Club, numerous local Chambers of Commerce, and the Stevenson High School Band Parents' Organization; and

WHEREAS, He has served on the College of Lake County Advisory Board, the Omni Youth Services Board of Ambassadors, the United Way of Lake County Board, the NICASA Advisory Board, and the First Colonial Bank of Vernon Hills Board; and

WHEREAS, He is a member of the Citizens for Conservation, the Friends of Ryerson Woods, the Friends of the Vernon Area Library, the Illinois Historical Society, and the Township Officials of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, He earned a bachelor's degree in history from North Park University and a master's degree in education from Northern Illinois University, and did post-graduate studies at Loyola University of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, He is a former teacher and served as an elementary school principal at Northbrook and Highland Park School Districts; and

WHEREAS, He was a school board member for Elmwood Park Unit District 401; and

WHEREAS, He was a Vernon Township Trustee from 1973 through 1977, and has served as Vernon Township Supervisor since 1977; and

WHEREAS, He served in the United States Army and United States Army Reserves, earning the rank of Sergeant; and

WHEREAS, Bill and his wife, Patricia, have been married since 1958, and have three children and five grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, In his more than 26 years as a lawmaker, William Peterson has represented his constituents in Springfield with determination and class, earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle; and

WHEREAS, Legislators and staff alike know and appreciate Senator Peterson for his warmth, his kindness, and his easy smile; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate William Peterson on his retirement from the Illinois General Assembly after more than 26 years of honorable and dedicated service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this preamble and resolution be presented to William Peterson with our friendship, our gratitude for his hard work, and our best wishes for his future endeavors.