HR1419

LRB095 21775 GRL 51990 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, John Wood Community College is one of 39 public 
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community college districts in the State of Illinois, with a 
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credit enrollment each semester of more than 2,700 students and 
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with a wide range of programs and services serving the area; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, John Wood Community College has a tremendous 
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economic impact on the entire region,  in addition to the 
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individual students who benefit from a JWCC education; and

 
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    WHEREAS, William Simpson will retire as President of John 
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Wood Community College in August of 2008 after 40 years in 
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higher education; and
 
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    WHEREAS, William Simpson has served as President of John 
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Wood Community College since February of 1997 and is currently 
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one of the longest-serving community college presidents in 
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Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Prior to his arrival at John Wood Community 
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College, William Simpson served as Dean of Marshalltown 
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Community College and as Vice President of Academic Affairs for 
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the Iowa Valley Community College District; he was also 
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employed in various positions at Olympic College in Bremerton, 
 


 






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Washington, Black Hawk College's East Campus in Kewanee, and 
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Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg; and

 
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    WHEREAS, During Dr. Simpson's tenure at JWCC, student 
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enrollment has grown by more than 20 percent, several new 
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career programs have been added, and the Quincy campus has 
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expanded from having only one building to a full-service campus 
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with four primary academic buildings, plus the Student Activity 
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Center and a maintenance building; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson has been active in professional and 
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educational organizations on many levels, including the Board 
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of Directors of the National Junior College Athletic 
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Association and the Board of Trustees of Monmouth College; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson's commitment to the community college 
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mission has earned him several awards, including two from Phi 
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Theta Kappa International Honor Society, the Michael Bennett 
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Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and the Shirley B. Gordon 
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Award in 2006 for his outstanding efforts toward promoting the 
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goals of Phi Theta Kappa; he was also the recipient of the 
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NCJAA's Service Award for having made significant 
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contributions to community college athletics on a national 
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level; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson also has been very active in civic 
 


 






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organizations, having served on the Quincy Family YMCA Board 
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and the Adams County United Way Board of Directors; he also 
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served as President of the Rotary Club of Quincy; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson holds a doctor of education and a 
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master of arts degree from Illinois State University and a 
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bachelor of arts degree from Monmouth College; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson and his wife, Joyce Simpson, a retired 
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educator with Quincy University, have two married daughters and 
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two grandchildren; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson serves as a model of hard work, 
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integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
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Illinois; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate William Simpson on the occasion of his retirement 
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and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and 
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be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to William Simpson as a symbol of our esteem and 
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respect.