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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Patrick "Pat" Welch, who passed away on 
4January 7, 2020 at the age of 71; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Pat Welch was born on December 12, 1948 in 
6Chicago; he attended Southern Illinois University at 
7Carbondale, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Government; he earned 
8a law degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology's 
9Chicago-Kent School of Law; he was admitted to the Illinois Bar 
10and practiced law in Peru, Illinois; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Within months of earning his law degree, Pat Welch 
12was named Democratic State Central Committeeman in 1978 and was 
13the youngest person to hold that office at that time; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Pat Welch was elected as a Democratic member of 
15the Illinois Senate; he represented the 38th Senate District 
16from 1983-2004  and was reelected six times; he served as the 
17Assistant Majority Leader for the 93rd General Assembly and 
18served this body with distinction; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Pat Welch received national recognition and was 
20awarded the "Best Bet Award" in 1988 from the National Center 
21of Environmental Alternatives for his sponsorship of the 
 
 
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1Groundwater Protection Act; he also received numerous other 
2environmental, labor, rehabilitation, and agricultural awards; 
3and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Pat Welch was a member of several Committees, 
5including Appropriations II as the chairperson, Appropriations 
6I, Agriculture and Conservation, Environment and Energy, 
7Revenue, and the Subcommittee on Gaming-Revenue; he also served 
8as the co-chairperson of the Economic and Fiscal Commission; 
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Pat Welch served as the Assistant Director of 
11Revenue for six years and retired in 2011; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Pat Welch is preceded in death by his former wife 
13Bonnie Welch and his son Daniel Welch; therefore, be it
  
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
16Patrick "Pat" Welch and extend our sincere condolences to his 
17family, friends, and all those who knew and loved him; and be 
18it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the family of Pat Welch as an expression of our 
21deepest sympathy.