HR1107 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1107 LRB098 21152 GRL 59581 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to honor Miguel Felipe Santiago Echegaray for his many accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray was born on April 11, 1941 in Lares, Puerto Rico; at the age of 4, his mother, Maria D. Echegaray, passed away; a year after this unfortunate event, he moved to Quebrada, Camuy, with his father, Hipolito Santiago, and Adela Morales Robles, who cared for him as her own; and

WHEREAS, After attending Jose Dolores Bonilla Elementary School, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray was transferred to Quebrada Santiago R. Palmer, where he finished his remaining elementary and junior high school years, and attended high school at Maria Cadilla de Martinez in the City of Arecibo; he subsequently attended the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras and earned a Bachelor's Degree in teaching, specializing in Spanish and social studies, and a Master's Degree in Management and Supervision; he is also licensed as a teacher specializing in elementary and high school education and licensed as a principal and assistant principal; and

WHEREAS, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray began his professional career in 1964 at Santiago R. Palmer Elementary School, where he taught students through 6th grade; in 1975, he was appointed to serve as the principal of this school, serving in this role until September 1977; he then became the Assistant Superintendent responsible for overseeing various auxiliary schools; for 17 years, he served as the Assistant Superintendent in charge of overseeing numerous programs, such as special education, social work, vocational guidance, and supervision, both at the elementary and high school levels; he also served as a teacher and principal at Unidad Santiago R. Palmer High School and as an Assistant Superintendent in Camuy; and

WHEREAS, In 1975, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray and several community leaders belonging to various political parties acquired 4,000-acres of land that belonged to Central Soller to develop farms for small and medium-sized farmers; in 1980, he, along with many community leaders from the town of Camuy, joined together to solicit the help of Governor Carlos Romero Barcelo to build a new elementary and junior high school; the school was successfully built and today serves over one-thousand students from the communities of Quebrada, Cibao, Puertos, Santiago, Abra Honda, Lares, and Hatillo; he also advocated for better fitness facilities and repairs to municipal roads; and

WHEREAS, In 1984, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray was elected to the Camuy City Council; he was later promoted to President of that body, where he served for 12 consecutive years; he served as President of the City Council of Camuy for 12 years and served for 20 years as a Municipal Legislator; he currently serves as a consultant to the City Council; he also served as the President for the Commission of Camuy, President of the Board of Directors for the Center of Municipal Services in Santiago, President for the Committees for Supervision and Education Union in Quebrada, member of the Education Committee and the Board of Directors for the Cooperative Savings and Credit Union of Quebrada, and Administrator for Las Cavemas Park in Rio Camuy; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray was recognized by the School District of Camuy as Teacher of the Year; that same year, he was the recipient of the Paul Avila award presented by the Municipal Administration of Camuy; in 2007, he received a tribute by the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc.; on November 29, 2012, a new school was named for him in the community of Quebrada in Camuy in honor of his work in the community; and

WHEREAS, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray is an active member of the Presbyterian Church in Quebrada; he also served on various committees for the Northeastern Presbyterian Association; and

WHEREAS, Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray is the loving husband of Lucy, a retired teacher, and the father of 3 sons, Miguel, Ricardo, and Elisanel; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Miguel Felipe Santiago Echegaray for his many accomplishments and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Miguel F. Santiago Echegaray as a symbol of our esteem and respect.