HR1547

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Richard Steele of 
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Morris on the occasion of being selected as an inductee to the 
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2008 Illinois Senior Hall of Fame; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Steele was employed as a radio announcer 
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from 1964 until 1999; he currently hosts a popular talk show 
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every Sunday for WCSJ radio in Morris, in which he highlights 
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local events and organizations; he is well known in the Morris 
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area as a tireless promoter of youth sports programs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After retiring from radio, Richard Steele chose to 
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help his community; in 2001, he was appointed to the position 
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of Morris Township Trustee and Road Trustee; he ran for a 
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position on the Grundy County Board in 2002 and was elected 
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with the highest number of votes; as a County Board member, he 
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serves on numerous committees, including the Environmental, 
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Health, Emergency Management, County Home, and Election 
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committees, as well as the Route 66 Executive Board and the 
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Emergency Food and Shelter Board; he also serves on Illinois 
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State Representative Careen Gordon's Senior Advisory and 
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Economic Development committees; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Steele is well known in his community as a 
 


 






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dedicated volunteer; he helped raise over $100,000 to help 
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underprivileged children get Christmas presents and school 
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supplies; he helped organize the "Light Up the Night Event" in 
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October of 2007, which seeks to prevent domestic violence, 
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honor those who help prevent domestic violence, and give 
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resources to those affected by domestic violence; he helped 
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organize the "Hands Around the Courthouse" events to raise 
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awareness of child abuse; he has also helped raise awareness 
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for such causes as the United Way, Operation St. Nick, the 
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Veteran's Assistance program, and the Grundy County Corn 
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Festival, among many others; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Steele has held memberships at the Lions 
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Club, the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce, the Morris High 
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Music Boosters and football team, the Quarterback Club in 
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Morris, and the Grundy County Centennial Committee; he 
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currently serves as a member of the Grundy County Justice 
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Assistance Board, a board that helps victims of crimes pay for 
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needed resources such as counseling and funerary expenses; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Steele has been the recipient of numerous 
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awards and accolades for his many works; he was inducted into 
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the Coal Valley Old Timers Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984, the 
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Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1998, 
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and the Grundy County Senior Hall of Fame in 1999; he was the 
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recipient of the State Police Award for Public Service in 1999; 
 


 






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on the day of his retirement in 1999, the City of Morris 
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proclaimed the day "Dick Steele Day" in honor of his 
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accomplishments; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Richard Steele's dedication to his community and 
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his willingness to those in need make him a supremely qualified 
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inductee to the Illinois Senior Hall of Fame; 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 Richard Steele of Morris on the occasion of being 
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selected as an inductee to the 2008 Illinois Senior Hall of 
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Fame and wish him continued success and happiness in his future 
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endeavors; and be it further

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