SR0223 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0223 LRB104 13041 LAW 24868 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William F. "Bill" Murphy Jr., the former Mayor of the Village of Woodridge, who passed away on March 30, 2025; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy, the son of Dr. William Murphy and Agnes Murphy, graduated from Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst, Illinois, St. Bede Academy in Peru, Illinois, and St. Joseph's College in Collegeville, Indiana; he received a master's degree in education administration and supervision from Roosevelt University; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy began his career in education with Chicago Public Schools, where he worked for five years; he proceeded to join Woodridge School District 68, where he served as a principal for five years and then as assistant superintendent for personnel, a position he held for 29 years until he retired in 2004; in retirement, he received the distinction of the board of education renaming the Woodridge Elementary School as the William F. Murphy Elementary School to honor his service to the school district and community; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy was the longest-serving Mayor of Woodridge and of DuPage County; he initially served as a village trustee after first being elected in 1973, a position he held for two four-year terms; he was elected as Mayor of Woodridge in 1981, serving in that position across 32 years until he retired on April 30, 2013; during his tenure, he was instrumental in the expansion of the Woodridge community, with the population growing by more than 47% and its square miles doubling since 1981, evolving the village from a bedroom community to one possessing a diversified, stable economy; under his leadership, property values in Woodridge soared, succeeding $500 million in 1988 and then $3 billion in 2006, while the property tax rate declined 24 years in a row from 1985 to 2010; he also played an integral role in the development of Memorial Park, the Woodridge Center, the Centrepointe of Woodridge shopping center, the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Classic at the Seven Bridges Golf Club, the K-9 program, miles of bike paths, several subdivisions, and task forces; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy led his community through partnership, service, and recognition; he introduced an annual community recognition program to highlight the village's most outstanding business, youth, citizen, association, advisory commission member, and public employee; he championed a strategic management process that seeks input from the community to identify priority goals and then uses that input to create board goals to be carried out by staff; he implemented a five-year financial planning process to ensure both the stability of Woodridge and the ability to achieve the goals identified by the community; his impact on Woodridge was further cemented when the village was featured as the "World's Greatest Community-Midwest" by the World's Greatest TV Show in 2006 and showcased as one of "100 Best Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2007; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy further gave back to his community through the ProLogis Foundation, providing annual college scholarships to Woodridge High School graduates and grants to a number of charitable programs, including Support Our Troops, the Woodridge Golden Years program, the Woodridge Community Resource Center, and the Diversity Committee; he also helped create the Building On Our Dream Award and was a charter board member of Giant Steps, an autism center for excellence in Lisle, a member of the community pantry board and the Robert Shields Memorial fundraiser, and a longtime usher at St. Scholastica Catholic Church, where he also belonged to the Finance Committee; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy was an active participant in local, regional, and national organizations, previously serving as a two-term president of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, vice chairman of the DuPage Water Commission, president of the Illinois Municipal League, vice president of the Illinois International Port District, and a member of the National League of Cities Board of Directors and Advisory Council and the U.S. Conference of Mayors; he also served as a mentor to many, sharing his insights on how to build communities and be an effective leader and advocate; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy was a true servant leader who advanced Woodridge immeasurably through his intelligence, strength, compassion, drive, kindness, fortitude, ethics, determination, vision, and adherence to the principles of good governance; his legacy will further live on through the Woodridge Village Hall being renamed as the William F. Murphy Jr. Village Hall in honor of his exemplary public service and his selfless dedication to the Woodridge community for over 55 years; and

WHEREAS, William Murphy was the husband of Liz (Campbell) Murphy for over 58 years; the father of Jennifer (Larry) Lawson, Lisa (Doug) Young, William Murphy III, and Colleen (Tom) Bosche; the grandfather of six; the brother of Timothy, Anne Schiller, Jane Wangler, Mary Hauert, Charles Murphy, and Peggy Grobe; and the relative of many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of William F. "Bill" Murphy Jr., the former Mayor of the Village of Woodridge, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William Murphy as an expression of our deepest sympathy.