HR1559 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1559 LRB094 22164 KXB 60821 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Regis Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Morton Grove, Illinois, is celebrating 50 years of providing organic synthesis and chromatography separation services for government agencies, university research laboratories, and worldwide pharmaceutical manufacturers of all sizes; and

WHEREAS, The roots of the company extend back to 1888 when Louis Glunz I, a native of Westphalia, Germany, started his own business, the Louis Glunz Company, merchandising wine, beer, and spirits in Chicago; during the Prohibition era, the family business survived by marketing sacramental wines, medicinal brandy, and home brewing supplies; after Prohibition, the company grew as beer and wine bottlers and distributors, and are still thriving today; and

WHEREAS, While working with his father in the family business, Louis J. Glunz III developed an interest in chemistry, and they talked of starting a chemical company; he attended Loyola University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, and the University of Notre Dame, where he earned his Doctorate; he then spent two years with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps, then returned to launch Regis Chemical Company, which was later renamed Regis Technologies, Inc., in 1956 with partner, Dr. Anthony Verbiscar; at the suggestion of Dr. Bernhard Witkop, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, the company began to synthesize indole compounds and became known as the "indole company"; and

WHEREAS, Regis Technologies, Inc., has continued to grow over the years and today is one of the State of Illinois' premier companies; the company has made so many valuable contributions through its work, including its work with the U.S. Army Chemical Center, the production of anti-radiation compounds for Walter Reed Army Medical Center, scaling up a synthesis for a potential withdrawal compound for the National Institute of Drug Abuse, and the commercialization of gas chromatography products; the company is recognized as a pioneer in innovative chromatography; and

WHEREAS, In 1999 Louis J. Glunz IV became president of Regis Technologies, Inc., and Louis J. Glunz III became CEO and Chairman, but in 2005 Louis J. Glunz III relinquished the CEO title, enabling him to commit time and energy to several civic, charitable, and educational organizations; he serves as the Chair of Catholic Charities of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, As Regis Technologies, Inc., marks its 50th anniversary, the company has added a new state-of-the-art separation technology, Super Critical Fluid Chromatography, and has completed construction on a new synthetic research laboratory wing; this expansion was financed by bonds through the Illinois Finance Authority; the Regis team is proud of its reputation as "chemists for the life sciences"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the fine men and women of Regis Technologies, Inc., on the 50th anniversary of this innovative chemical company; we also congratulate the Glunz family, most notably Louis J. Glunz III and Louis J. Glunz IV, for their hard work and dedication to make this company a benefit to the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the President and CEO of Regis Technologies, Inc., Louis J. Glunz IV, and his father, founder and Chairman, Louis J. Glunz III.