HR0366 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0366 LRB096 12651 GRL 26143 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate John M. Zeunik on the occasion of his retirement as County Administrator of McLean County on May 22, 2009 after rendering outstanding service to the citizens of McLean County since May 23, 1988; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago in 1971 and his Master of Arts degree in Public Administration and Urban Studies from Loyola University of Chicago in 1978; he graduated from the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik began his professional career as a Social Studies Teacher at St. Ignatius College Prep High School in Chicago in 1973; he also served as Chairman of the Social Studies Department at St. Ignatius College Prep High School from 1973 to 1977; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik began his distinguished career in public service as an Assistant to the Chief Administrative Officer for the Cook County Bureau of Administration in 1977; as an Assistant, he provided valuable assistance to the Chief Administrative Officer, directed the Economic Development Program, and administered the Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bond Program until 1984; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik advanced in his public service career to become an Associate Administrator for Operations at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, serving as a member of the hospital's Senior Management Team responsible for planning, developing, and implementing hospital-wide programs and policies, as well as exercising direct line management responsibility for thirteen support service departments from 1984 to 1986; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik further enhanced his background by serving as Vice President of the Midwest Region Public Finance Office of E.F. Hutton & Company, Inc. in Chicago, where he provided public finance investment banking services to State authorities and agencies, local municipal clients, not-for-profit corporations, hospitals, and for-profit corporations in a ten-state region from 1986 to 1988; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik has served as McLean County Administrator since May of 1988, having led the financing and construction of a $20 million addition to the Law & Justice Center, a nationally recognized $4 million Juvenile Detention Center, a $3.5 million acquisition and renovation of the Government Center, and a $9.5 million renovation of the Law & Justice Center; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik has developed and managed the McLean County Budget as it has grown to over $77 million per year; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik has served as a Visiting Guest Lecturer at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University, an Instructor for the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension, and a Lecturer at Eureka College; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik has served his community in many capacities; he has served as Chairman of the Metro McLean County Centralized Communications Center Governing Board; he is a member of the National Association of Counties Environment, Energy, and Land Use Steering Committee and the Illinois City-County Managers Association; he has served as President of the Illinois Association of County Administrators; he is a member of the United Way of McLean County's Board of Directors; he is also Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of the McLean County American Red Cross of the Heartland; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Zeunik has served his community and his profession with intelligence, dedication, and the highest integrity; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate John M. Zeunik 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 John Zeunik as a symbol of our esteem and respect.