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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Senator Louis S. "Lou" Viverito represented the
3citizens of the State of Illinois and the families of the 11th
4Legislative District from January of 1995 until January of
52011; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Louis S. "Lou" Viverito was born and raised on the
7South Side of Chicago in the working class community of
8Bridgeview; he attended McClellan Grammar School and Tilden
9Tech High School; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's career is marked by a sincere
11and fervent dedication to serve his community, his State, and
12his country; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito served his nation in the United
14States Army during the Korean War; during his service, he was
15decorated on three occasions; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito began his career as an elected
17official in 1969, when he was selected to serve as Stickney
18Township Democratic Committeeman; he also served as a delegate
19at the 1972 Democratic National Convention and was elected to
20serve as Stickney Township Supervisor and Chairman of the
21Township's Public Health District in 1973; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's leadership in the area of
2township government has been recognized by many; under his
3direction, Stickney Township and the numerous services it
4provides to residents has often been cited as a model of
5township government; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito also served as
7Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President of the Cook County
8Township Supervisors Association from 1976 until 1977, as
9Commissioner of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater
10Chicago from 1980 until 1986, and as a member of the Cook
11County Zoning Board of Appeals from 1987 until his election to
12the Illinois Senate; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito was elected to the Illinois State
14Senate in 1994 and was sworn in as a member of the Senate in
151995; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Over the last 15 years, Senator Viverito has been
17a strong advocate for the communities he represents, including
18Berwyn, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Brookfield, Burbank,
19Chicago, Indian Head Park, Justice, LaGrange, Lyons, McCook,
20Riverside, Summit, Stickney, and Willow Springs; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's career in the Illinois Senate

 

 

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1has been highlighted by his strong commitment to improve the
2quality of life and safety in local communities; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has worked to advance
4initiatives to expand health care opportunities, including his
5sponsorship of legislation allowing townships to establish
6health care facilities for their citizens; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has also been a strong voice on
8behalf of Illinois' senior citizens, which he showed by passing
9a law expanding the number of seniors eligible for the property
10tax assessment freeze, providing tax relief to thousands of
11seniors throughout Illinois; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito is recognized by his colleagues
13in the Illinois General Assembly as a true patriot with a
14boundless appreciation for his fellow servicemen and women; he
15has received the appreciation of many service families after he
16championed the increase of line of duty awards for families of
17soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan to ease the financial
18burden these families experience at the most difficult period
19in their lives; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Senator
21Viverito has ascended to several leadership positions,
22including Minority Caucus Whip during the 91st General

 

 

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1Assembly, Assistant Majority Leader during the 92nd, 93rd,
294th, and 95th General Assemblies, and Majority Caucus Whip
3during the 96th General Assembly; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has served as a member on a
5variety of different Senate Committees, including the Senate
6Executive Committee and the Senate Committees on
7Appropriations, Elections, Executive Appointments, Financial
8Institutions, Higher Education, Rules, and State Government
9and Veterans Affairs; he also served as Chairman of the Senate
10Revenue Committee during the 96th General Assembly; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has been active in a variety of
12community organizations; he has served as Local Chairman of the
13Chicago Lung Association, a former Chairman of the Burbank
14Chamber of Commerce, an associate member of the Crisis Center
15of South Suburbia for Abused Women, a life member of the
16Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the American Legion, and
17a former member of the Moraine Valley Community College
18Economic Development Board; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has received a number of awards
20and honors in recognition of his strong efforts to support his
21community, including the "Man of the Year" award from the Joint
22Civic Committee of Italian-Americans, the "Outstanding
23Legislator" award from the Illinois Health Care Association in

 

 

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11999, "Democratic Legislator of the Year" from the Illinois
2State Crime Commission in 2000, an induction into the Valentine
3Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame, and the 2010 "Legislator of
4the Year" award from the South Suburban Park and Recreation
5Professional Association; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has also been commended for his
7community service from a variety of other groups, including the
8Burbank-Bridgeview Lions Club, the Boy Scouts of America, and
9the Stickney Senior Citizen's Council on Aging; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito is also recognized as an
11outstanding family man who married his wonderful wife and
12partner, Carolyn; the couple settled in unincorporated Cook
13County (now Burbank) shortly after his discharge from the Army;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito and his wife raised a son and two
16daughters; they are also the proud grandparents of five
17grandsons; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito will be missed by his colleagues
19for his willingness to work with others, his candor in debate,
20and his firm commitment to the citizens in his district; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's record of service to his

 

 

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1country and his State spans nearly five decades and is a
2testament to his strong belief that public service is a noble
3profession; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Senator Louis
6S. "Lou" Viverito for his 15 years of service to the people of
7Illinois and honor him with this resolution; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to Lou Viverito as a symbol of our gratitude and with
10our best wishes for his future endeavors.