SR0038 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0038 LRB097 09782 GRL 49970 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Senator Louis S. "Lou" Viverito represented the citizens of the State of Illinois and the families of the 11th Legislative District from January of 1995 until January of 2011; and

WHEREAS, Louis S. "Lou" Viverito was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago in the working class community of Bridgeview; he attended McClellan Grammar School and Tilden Tech High School; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's career is marked by a sincere and fervent dedication to serve his community, his State, and his country; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito served his nation in the United States Army during the Korean War; during his service, he was decorated on three occasions; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito began his career as an elected official in 1969, when he was selected to serve as Stickney Township Democratic Committeeman; he also served as a delegate at the 1972 Democratic National Convention and was elected to serve as Stickney Township Supervisor and Chairman of the Township's Public Health District in 1973; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's leadership in the area of township government has been recognized by many; under his direction, Stickney Township and the numerous services it provides to residents has often been cited as a model of township government; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito also served as Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President of the Cook County Township Supervisors Association from 1976 until 1977, as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago from 1980 until 1986, and as a member of the Cook County Zoning Board of Appeals from 1987 until his election to the Illinois Senate; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1994 and was sworn in as a member of the Senate in 1995; and

WHEREAS, Over the last 15 years, Senator Viverito has been a strong advocate for the communities he represents, including Berwyn, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Brookfield, Burbank, Chicago, Indian Head Park, Justice, LaGrange, Lyons, McCook, Riverside, Summit, Stickney, and Willow Springs; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's career in the Illinois Senate has been highlighted by his strong commitment to improve the quality of life and safety in local communities; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has worked to advance initiatives to expand health care opportunities, including his sponsorship of legislation allowing townships to establish health care facilities for their citizens; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has also been a strong voice on behalf of Illinois' senior citizens, which he showed by passing a law expanding the number of seniors eligible for the property tax assessment freeze, providing tax relief to thousands of seniors throughout Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito is recognized by his colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly as a true patriot with a boundless appreciation for his fellow servicemen and women; he has received the appreciation of many service families after he championed the increase of line of duty awards for families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan to ease the financial burden these families experience at the most difficult period in their lives; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure in the Senate, Senator Viverito has ascended to several leadership positions, including Minority Caucus Whip during the 91st General Assembly, Assistant Majority Leader during the 92nd, 93rd, 94th, and 95th General Assemblies, and Majority Caucus Whip during the 96th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has served as a member on a variety of different Senate Committees, including the Senate Executive Committee and the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Elections, Executive Appointments, Financial Institutions, Higher Education, Rules, and State Government and Veterans Affairs; he also served as Chairman of the Senate Revenue Committee during the 96th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has been active in a variety of community organizations; he has served as Local Chairman of the Chicago Lung Association, a former Chairman of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, an associate member of the Crisis Center of South Suburbia for Abused Women, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the American Legion, and a former member of the Moraine Valley Community College Economic Development Board; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has received a number of awards and honors in recognition of his strong efforts to support his community, including the "Man of the Year" award from the Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans, the "Outstanding Legislator" award from the Illinois Health Care Association in 1999, "Democratic Legislator of the Year" from the Illinois State Crime Commission in 2000, an induction into the Valentine Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame, and the 2010 "Legislator of the Year" award from the South Suburban Park and Recreation Professional Association; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito has also been commended for his community service from a variety of other groups, including the Burbank-Bridgeview Lions Club, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Stickney Senior Citizen's Council on Aging; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito is also recognized as an outstanding family man who married his wonderful wife and partner, Carolyn; the couple settled in unincorporated Cook County (now Burbank) shortly after his discharge from the Army; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito and his wife raised a son and two daughters; they are also the proud grandparents of five grandsons; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito will be missed by his colleagues for his willingness to work with others, his candor in debate, and his firm commitment to the citizens in his district; and

WHEREAS, Senator Viverito's record of service to his country and his State spans nearly five decades and is a testament to his strong belief that public service is a noble profession; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Senator Louis S. "Lou" Viverito for his 15 years of service to the people of Illinois and honor him with this resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Lou Viverito as a symbol of our gratitude and with our best wishes for his future endeavors.