HR1167 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1167 LRB099 21381 MST 47259 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Virgil Becker on the occasion of his retirement as board member of the Kaskaskia Regional Port District; and

WHEREAS, Virgil Becker was born in Smithton on April 1, 1933; he has dedicated his life to public service and to his family, including his wife of almost 62 years, Jolene, his 4 children, his 8 grandchildren, and his 10 great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Virgil Becker worked as a carpenter, ran Becker's Corner Tavern, and founded Becker Floor Covering, which is still in the family today; and

WHEREAS, Virgil Becker served on the Smithton Village Board from 1965 to 1989 before serving as Mayor of Smithton from 1989 to 2005; he rejoined the Village Board in 2007, bringing his time on the Village Board to 52 years; and

WHEREAS, Virgil Becker was appointed by Governor Jim Edgar to the Kaskaskia Regional Port District board in 1992, representing St. Clair County for 24 years as one of 15 uncompensated board members on the board and serving as Assistant Treasurer; and

WHEREAS, As a member of the Kaskaskia Regional Port District board, Virgil Becker participated in the diversification of the Kaskaskia Regional Port District from single commodity shipping on the river to over five different commodities today; and

WHEREAS, Virgil Becker helped lead the Kaskaskia Regional Port District to be the 76th largest port in the country; and

WHEREAS, Virgil Becker will be retiring from his position as a Kaskaskia Regional Port District board member in 2016; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Virgil Becker for his many years of public service and congratulate him on his retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Virgil Becker as an expression of our esteem and respect.