SJ0038 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0038 LRB094 11729 CSA 45196 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly takes pride in recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Illinois officials and citizens; and

WHEREAS, Senator James Peyton "Pate" Philip became Senate President in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip started his political career in 1965 as York Township Auditor, was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1966, and served there until 1974, when he was elected to the Illinois Senate; in the Senate, he served as Minority Leader from 1981 until he was elected Senate President in 1993, and he was re-elected Senate President in 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2001; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip served as Chairman of the DuPage County Republican Central Committee for just under 34 years; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip is recognized for his work to increase public access to the legislative process, improve our schools, streamline government, hold the line on taxes, and improve the State's job climate; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip ably served the changing needs of DuPage County through three decades of public service as farmland and woodlands became subdivisions and bustling commercial centers; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip brought the concerns of DuPage County and his constituents to the legislature, bringing water system improvements, flood control, and other infrastructure projects to the suburbs; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip protected DuPage County, his constituents, and other suburban counties from the burden of excessive property tax increases; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip is a lifelong resident of DuPage County, where he is active in numerous civic and charitable organizations; and

WHEREAS, In 1989, the Illinois General Assembly appropriated $10 million to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the acquisition of Tri-County State Park, where the goal was to blend the forest, marshland, and grasslands of DuPage County's Pratt's Wayne Woods Forest Preserve to the south with the newly purchased conservation lands to the north; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources developed the Tri-County State Park Native Vegetation Restoration Plan to guide preliminary restoration activities at the site; and

WHEREAS, In 1995, plans began for the construction of the new Region 2 Illinois Department of Natural Resources headquarters and the Tri-County State Park Visitor Center; construction began in the fall of 2000, and the park opened to the public in April of 2003; and

WHEREAS, Senator Philip is an avid outdoorsman, whose support for conservation and love of outdoor sports and recreation is legendary; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we rename the Tri-County State Park located in DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties, with its headquarters at 3 South 580 Naperville Road in Wheaton, in honor of James "Pate" Philip; and in implementing this honor, we designate the park as the James "Pate" Philip State Park and designate the park's visitor's center as the James "Pate" Philip State Park Visitor Center; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this preamble and resolution be presented to Senator James "Pate" Philip, the Director of the Department of Natural Resources, the President of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, and the Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.