HR0868 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0868 LRB102 27708 MST 39502 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois State Representative and U.S. Congressman Timothy Vincent "Tim" Johnson, who passed away on May 9, 2022 at his home in Urbana, among family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Lifelong Champaign County native and resident Congressman Johnson was born on July 23, 1946 in Champaign; he pursued his education in the twin cities of his birth, graduating from Urbana High School in 1964 and then attending the University of Illinois; he earned a bachelor's degree in 1969 (Phi Beta Kappa) and a juris doctorate in 1972 (Order of the Coif); and

WHEREAS, Even more significant to Congressman Johnson than these academic honors was his family heritage; on his mother's side, his grandfather was McLean County Republican stalwart Arthur Evans; his own father, Robert Johnson, followed the path of public service for many years in Champaign County, rising to membership of the Urbana City Council and serving as the Chairman of the Champaign County Republican Party; and

WHEREAS, Even in the 1960's, Champaign County was not quite as Republican as other downstate Illinois counties; Congressman Johnson's father, despite his partisan role, developed a reputation as a can-do problem solver who would work with neighbors of both parties to get things done for Champaign-Urbana; and

WHEREAS, During his time in law school and after graduation, Congressman Johnson served as a teaching assistant in the U of I's College of Commerce and College of Law; and

WHEREAS, While in law school, Congressman Johnson turned his attention to politics, seeking and winning his father's seat on the Urbana City Council, on which his service began in 1971; and

WHEREAS, Upon the retirement of Rep. John C. Hirschfeld in 1976, Congressman Johnson sought the nomination for what was then an open Republican seat in the 52nd District, which encompassed part of Champaign County as well as Douglas and Moultrie Counties; in a six-candidate race, he won the nomination, having not yet celebrated his 30th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in the fall of America's bicentennial year, Congressman Johnson began a 24 year career in Illinois's largest legislative chamber; working with the House Judiciary II – Criminal Law Committee, he made many suggestions to improve the criminal laws of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, As a powerful voice for downstate Illinois, Congressman Johnson was named Deputy Minority Leader by House Republican Leader Lee A. Daniels, serving in this role continuously except in 1995-96 when Republicans organized the Illinois House and his role was that of Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, upon the retirement of Congressman Tom Ewing, Congressman Johnson took the opportunity to seek nomination and election from his east central Illinois home to the United States House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, As a member of Congress, Congressman Johnson served on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the U.S. House Agriculture Committee; in this latter committee, he served as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, As a member of Congress and of the Agriculture and Transportation Committees, Congressman Johnson placed corn-based ethanol and America-grown biodiesel fuels at the center of American life; facing down some of America's largest business firms, he worked with other corn belt lawmakers to successfully demand that ethanol-blended motor fuels become the octane enhancer of choice at American motor fuel retail pumps nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson was a member of many congressional caucuses; as the partisan gap between the two parties widened in Washington and elsewhere, and remembering his father's heritage of working across the aisle, he was the co-founder and Co-chairman of the Center Aisle Caucus; and

WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson took care to stay in touch with his constituents back home in Illinois; many homes in central Illinois remember their phone ringing on some evening and hearing the voice of their old friend checking in with them, asking how they were doing, and seeking nonpartisan advice on the great issues of the day; and

WHEREAS, After 12 years in the U.S. House, Congressman Johnson decided, in 2012, that his work was done; he returned home to central Illinois and resumed a schedule of public teaching, including appointments at Illinois State University (2013-2014), Danville Area Community College (2014), and the College of Liberal Arts at his alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2014); and

WHEREAS, In 2013, Congressman Johnson was awarded the Order of Lincoln by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, the highest-ranking honor that an Illinoisan can receive for service to the people; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former Illinois State Representative and U.S. Congressman Timothy Vincent "Tim" Johnson and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the lengthy public service of Congressman Johnson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the heritage of American elected officials reaching out to their constituents of both parties, talking to them, asking for advice, and acting as their public servants rather than as their masters is a memory that is flickering but can never fade away; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Congressman Johnson's daughter, Heather Stephenson.