HR0417

LRB094 12219 CSA 45792 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, Waldon O. Degner, who served on the board of 
3
commissioners of the Palatine Park District from 1969 to 2005, 
4
has recently retired; while a commissioner, he served several 
5
terms as the board's president, vice-president, and treasurer; 
6
and

 
7
    WHEREAS, During his tenure on the Palatine Park Board, park 
8
properties increased from 170 acres to 665 acres, recreation 
9
programs expanded from 40 to 1,200, and the annual budget grew 
10
from $500,000 to $14 million; among his  many accomplishments,  
11
he was  instrumental in the acquisition of property for, and the 
12
$250,000 renovation of, the George Clayson House Museum, and he 
13
negotiated the acquisition by the Park District and the Village 
14
of Palatine of the former Palatine High School, which is now 
15
the Palatine Community Center and the site of Cutting Hall; and

 
16
    WHEREAS, Mr. Degner served on the board of the Illinois 
17
Association of Park Districts (IAPD) from 1977 to 1983, was 
18
vice-president from 1976 to 1978, served on several committees, 
19
and was a speaker on numerous state conference and national 
20
congress educational session panels; he received the Allen A. 
21
Weissburg Award for his long-term service to Palatine and to 
22
the Illinois Association of Park Districts; he was 
23
instrumentally involved in hiring two IAPD executive 
24
directors, helped guide the IAPD through tumultuous times of 
25
change, and was one of the principal authors of the Memorandum 
26
of Understanding which led to the effective cooperation on 
27
several fronts between IAPD and the Illinois Park and 
28
Recreation Association; and

 
29
    WHEREAS, He was raised in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and graduated 
30
from Oshkosh High School in 1954; he actively served in the 
31
U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956 and attended the University 
32
of Wisconsin from 1956 to 1961; he was a career employee as a 
 


 






HR0417
- 2 -
LRB094 12219 CSA 45792 r




1
revenue officer with the Internal Revenue Service; and

 
2
    WHEREAS, He and his wife, Janet, have three children, Carl, 
3
Curt, and Amy, and six grandchildren; he was a volunteer leader 
4
with Boy Scouts of America Troop 69; he also served on the 
5
Board of Trustees and as Treasurer of St. Paul United Church of 
6
Christ from 1977 to 1981; and

 
7
    WHEREAS, His enthusiasm for his commissioner's role, his 
8
example to other commissioners, his support of staff, and his 
9
loyalty to the residents of Palatine Park District have been 
10
extremely positive and demonstrated excellent community 
11
service and leadership skills; therefore, be it

 
12
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13
NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14
we offer our sincere appreciation to Waldon O. Degner for his 
15
many years of exemplary service to the Palatine Park District 
16
and wish him well in his retirement and his future endeavors; 
17
and be it further

 
18
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19
presented to Waldon O. Degner as an expression of our 
20
admiration and esteem.