HR0331

LRB094 11946 CSA 44666 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, On May 1, 2005, Donald L. Baker will celebrate 40 
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years as Mayor of Peru; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Baker was born in Peru on October 23, 1929; he 
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graduated from LaSalle-Peru Township High School in 1947 and 
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from LaSalle-Peru Junior College in 1949; he attended Bradley 
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University and, after graduation in 1959, he and six others 
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formed Complete Industrial Enterprises, Inc. (CIE), a 
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wholesale electrical supplier; he is now President and 
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Treasurer of CIE; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has been married to his wife, Anne, for 24 
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years; he has three children, Lee Ann Clary, husband Phil; 
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Donald L. Baker, Jr., wife Suzanne; and Robert F. Baker, wife 
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Renee; and 11 grandchildren; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was alderman of the Fourth Ward in Peru from 
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1957 to 1961; he became mayor in 1965; in 1995, a flag flew on 
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the Capitol to honor his 30 years as Peru's mayor; and

 
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    WHEREAS, His vision has helped shape the growth of Peru; 
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during his tenure, the city has seen the construction  of Peru 
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Mall and the Illinois Valley Regional Airport, along with many 
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major industrial improvements like United Steel Deck and James 
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Hardie Corporation, as well as the purchase of Perurail in 
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1988, the railroad track that runs across the city's north 
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side; as a result, the city has a number of prospects looking 
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at sites along the track, and the unique ability of businesses 
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to transport from Peru by rail, highway, or river helps attract 
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even more businesses; in 1992, his dream came true when the 
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city sold $24 million in municipal bonds to build and establish 
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a hydro-electric plant at the Starved Rock Dam; today, the 
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plant provides 83 percent of the power needs of the citizens of 
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Peru; and

 
 


 






HR0331
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LRB094 11946 CSA 44666 r




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    WHEREAS, Not only has there been an abundance of industrial 
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developments, Peru has seen many commercial improvements and 
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residential growth; Mayor Baker's tenure has also witnessed the 
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redevelopment of Peru's downtown, which added overall beauty 
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and commercial growth to the city; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mayor Baker's accomplishments, his leadership 
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skills, and his commitment to the city have earned him the 
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respect and admiration of the community; 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, that 
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we congratulate Mayor Baker for his many years of exceptional 
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service to the City of Peru and extend to him our best wishes 
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for many more years of continued success and happiness; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Mayor Donald L. Baker as an expression of our 
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respect and esteem.