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92_SR0391
LRB9216602BHbhA
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger, the mayor and former State
3 representative who ushered Wheaton through some of its most
4 explosive growth, passed away on April 2, 2002; and
5 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger was born in Oak Park on January 24,
6 1923; he graduated from Glenbard West in 1941 and went into
7 the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he served in the European
8 theater during World War II; and
9 WHEREAS, Mr. Barger became mayor of Wheaton in 1971
10 amidst the plans to build the 20-story Wheaton Center
11 apartment buildings near the downtown train station; he went
12 on to lead the city for 12 years as the Farnham, Briarcliff,
13 Scottdale, and Butterfield Ridge subdivisions, as well as an
14 addition to the library, the city's second fire station and
15 the new West Street commuter train station, were built; the
16 Danada property on the city's south side was also annexed at
17 the end of his tenure in 1982; and
18 WHEREAS, For his years as mayor, Mr. Barger is considered
19 one of the best mayors in the history of Wheaton; and
20 WHEREAS, Mr. Barger served with distinction in the House
21 of Representatives from January 1983 until January 1990;
22 during his tenure in the General Assembly, he served on the
23 Committees on Aging, Consumer Protection, Executive, Housing,
24 Labor, Commerce, and served as minority spokesman for the
25 Cities and Villages Committee; and
26 WHEREAS, In addition to his public service, Mr. Barger
27 operated his own business, Grafic Foto, which he operated out
28 of his Wheaton home for 25 years; and
29 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger was a member of American Legion
30 Post #76 and served on the board of directors of Dieke
31 Center; in addition he was a Republican precinct committeeman
-2- LRB9216602BHbhA
1 and a lifetime member of the Wheaton Lions Club; and
2 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger was the beloved husband of Beverly
3 Barger; dear father of Ralph Hugh Barger, Susan Donahue,
4 Barbara (Donald) Schmitt, Cynthia Neeld, and Martha Barger;
5 loving grandfather of Jonathan and Jeffrey Barger, Katherine
6 Barger and James Schmitt; and fond brother of Robert Barger;
7 therefore, be it
8 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
9 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
10 all who knew him, the death of Ralph Barger of Wheaton; and
11 be it further
12 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13 presented to the family of Ralph Barger with our sincere
14 condolences.