HR0883 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0883 LRB101 21852 LAW 72811 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate James H. "Jim" Norris on the occasion of his retirement as village manager of Hoffman Estates; and

WHEREAS, Jim Norris was born in Richmond, Missouri to Dr. James D. and Nancy H. Norris on March 8, 1958; he is the oldest of three children; he attended the University of Missouri, Columbia; he earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Missouri in St. Louis in 1980; he earned his Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University in 1983; he married Irene, and they have been married for over 30 years; together, they have three children, Jimmy, Shannon, and Jennifer; and

WHEREAS, Prior to serving the Hoffman Estates community, Jim Norris served as the assistant village manager of Palatine from July of 1983 to January of 1987; he was the assistant village manager of Schaumburg from January of 1987 to October of 1988; he served as the city manager of Gladstone, Missouri from October of 1988 to February of 1998; and

WHEREAS, Jim Norris became the village manager of Hoffman Estates in March of 1998; he is the longest-serving village manager in Hoffman Estates' 60-year history; and

WHEREAS, Under his tenure, Jim Norris has brought economic development to Hoffman Estates; he was instrumental in the evolution of the Prairie Stone Business Park, including its growth into hospitality, retail, and entertainment uses; additionally, he has been involved in the current preparations to transform the former AT&T headquarters into the mixed-use Bell Works "metroburb"; he has been a champion for the residents and businesses of Hoffman Estates; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his service to Hoffman Estates, Jim Norris has served as an adjunct professor of public administration at Northern Illinois University; he has also served as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern University in Evanston and Park College in Kansas City; and

WHEREAS, Jim Norris has served in leadership positions in numerous organizations, including the Northwest Central Dispatch Board of Directors, the Joint Action Water Agency Executive Committee, the Joint Emergency Management Agency, and the Metropolitan Manager's Association; he served on a variety of committees, including the Illinois Municipal League Manager's Committee, the Northern Illinois University Ethics Committee, the Northern Illinois University James M. and Audrey M. Banovetz Fellowship Committee, and the Northern Illinois University MPA Program Board of Advisors; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate James H. "Jim" Norris on the occasion of his retirement, and we recognize his commitment to the community of Hoffman Estates for the past 22 years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jim Norris as an expression of our esteem and respect.