SR0935 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0935 LRB094 22083 KXB 60696 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Wendell Jones has served with distinction as State Senator since 1998; and

WHEREAS, He sponsored laws to protect children from sex offenders, reopen the "world class" Arlington International Racecourse, and support charter school reform, and he helped to pass Illinois' Safe Neighborhoods Act; and

WHEREAS, Wendell, as a devoted educator, has been a strong advocate for funding special education programs; and

WHEREAS, He worked to ensure that needed funds reached mental health programs in his district; and

WHEREAS, He served admirably on the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence and fought for funding for domestic violence shelters like Women In Need Growing Stronger, or WINGS, in his district; and

WHEREAS, He fought to protect the environment and supported local homeowners in their concerns about traffic congestion, flooding, and pollution surrounding the development of Wilke Marsh; and

WHEREAS, He served for 24 years in the public schools of Illinois as a special education teacher; Assistant Cook County Superintendent of Schools; and Director of the DuPage/West Cook Regional Special Education Association; and

WHEREAS, He served as Palatine Village President; a Trustee; was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1980; and a 40-year Republican Precinct Captain; and

WHEREAS, He is a former small business owner; and

WHEREAS, He has been a Palatine resident for more than 45 years; is married to his wife, Jane; and has helped raise three children, and spoil two grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, He received a bachelors degree in Speech and Hearing Therapy and a masters degree in Special Education, both at Ball State University; and

WHEREAS, He was never at a loss for words or a good one-liner when it came time to debate the States budget; and

WHEREAS, He admires the man who once said "The ten most terrifying words in the English language are: "Hi, I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."; and

WHEREAS, His love of Florida has "reluctantly" forced him to seek the warmth of the "Sunshine State"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Wendell Jones as he leaves the Illinois Senate after eight years of dedicated service and wish him well in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this preamble and resolution be presented to Wendell with our thanks for a job well done.