HJ0128

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Carl 
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Nels Becker of Petersburg on April 13, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was born on June 8, 1949, in Sheboygan, 
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Wisconsin, to Elmer Becker and Amy Nora Truesdale; he married 
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Peggy Parks on July 31, 1971, in Black Creek, Wisconsin; he 
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held a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of 
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Wisconsin at Stevens Point and a master's degree in ornithology 
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from Eastern Michigan University; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Becker worked as the Associate State Director 
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for Conservation Programs for the Illinois Chapter of the 
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Nature Conservancy; he held several positions within the 
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR); he was the 
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first Executive Director of the Illinois Endangered Species 
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Protection Board, the first Chief of the Division of Natural 
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Heritage, and served as Assistant Office Director of Realty and 
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Environmental Planning, before his retirement in December 
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2002; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He began working at IDNR in 1978 as a biologist 
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and quickly became a leader; during his tenure at IDNR, he 
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spearheaded the effort to create the Wildlife Preservation 
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Fund, an income tax check-off program that provides money for 
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wildlife habitats; he also worked to pass legislation 
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allocating a portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax to protect 
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natural areas and habitats for endangered and threatened 
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species; he played a critical role in conserving natural 
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habitats from Cook County to the Cache River State Natural 
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Area, laden with cypress trees, in the southernmost tip of 
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Illinois; he also was instrumental in efforts to save the 
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dwindling territory of the prairie chicken in southern Illinois 
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and to encourage peregrine falcons to roost among the Chicago 
 


 






HJ0128
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LRB094 20414 HSS 58667 r




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Loop's skyscrapers; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Becker was a national leader in conservation 
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issues, serving as Illinois representative with the 
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International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to push 
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for the Teaming with Wildlife Initiative; he was the past 
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president of the Natural Areas Association and was a member of 
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several conservation organizations; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In addition to his work to protect Illinois 
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natural areas, he was a leader in his community, serving as 
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President of the Lake Petersburg Association and Chair of the 
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Menard County Zoning Board of Appeals; a member of Petersburg 
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United Methodist Church, he was active in his church, serving 
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on the board of trustees; he also served as a Cub Scout leader 
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and coached youth soccer, softball, and baseball; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Carl Nels Becker has been deeply 
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felt by many, especially his wife, Peggy Becker; his sons, 
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Jason Becker and Jared Becker; his daughter, Jenifer Becker; 
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and his sister, Jane Kesting; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we mourn the passing of Carl 
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Nels Becker, who will be remembered as a champion for the 
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environment, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, 
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friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest 
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condolences and the sorrow that we share in this great loss.