HR0241 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0241 LRB096 12203 KXB 24731 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor our esteemed former colleague, Gary Hannig, for his many years of service to the people of the 98th District and the State of Illinois; we also wish to congratulate him on his appointment to become Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation; and

WHEREAS, Gary Hannig was first elected to office in November of 1978, serving as the youngest member of the House of Representatives for several terms; a proud downstate legislator for 30 years and 15 terms, he faithfully represented the concerns of the farmers, miners, and working families that made up his district and endeavored to ensure their concerns were represented and voices heard at the Illinois State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Representative Hannig built a reputation as an honest legislator with a ready ear, willing to share his fiscal and budget expertise with new legislators and to work with members on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation to make Illinois a better place to live; always affable and courteous, he took a genuine interest in the lives of his colleagues, legislative staff, and their families; and

WHEREAS, Representative Hannig, throughout his distinguished career, played a role in passing legislation to raise the minimum wage, expand access to health care for the uninsured, protect the rights of union workers, increase the use of alternative energy sources from Illinois farmers, foster rural economic development, increase education funding for local schools, protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and strengthen ethics and election statutes, and many significant bills that have made Illinois a better State; and

WHEREAS, Gary Hannig has served on many committees, including the Elementary and Secondary Education, General Services Appropriations, and Agriculture committees; he also served as Deputy Majority Leader and chief budget negotiator for Speaker Michael J. Madigan, and as Chair of the Downstate Democratic Caucus, co-chair of the Legislative Audit Commission, and as a member of the Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus; and

WHEREAS, Gary Hannig paid special attention to charitable organizations in his district, including extensive involvement as a member of the Mt. Olive Knights of Columbus, the Benld Croatian Lodge, and the Litchfield Rotary Club; he has also been honored with numerous awards and commendations from organizations such as the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Farm Bureau, Lincoln Land Community College, the Illinois Primary Healthcare Association, and the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, among many others; and

WHEREAS, Gary Hannig graduated in the top ten percent of his class at Mt. Olive High School and graduated with honors and a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Illinois; he passed the Certified Public Accountant exam in 1975 and worked as a CPA until his election to the Illinois House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, Gary Hannig lives in Litchfield with his wife, Elizabeth; and while the boundaries of his district changed over the years, his commitment to the people of Central Illinois and the values that make the region a great place to live and raise a family has never wavered; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives has lost an invaluable source of technical and institutional knowledge, and a man who exemplifies the true meaning of public service; and while the members of the Illinois House are sorry that Representative Hannig has left our ranks, they realize that his departure will allow him to make a difference in the lives of many more Illinoisans, and that his knowledge, honesty, and commitment to the people of Illinois is greatly needed at this time of transition in the executive branch of Illinois government; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we wish our former colleague, State Representative Gary Hannig, all the best in his future endeavors, and congratulates him for his appointment to the position of Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation and thanks him for his many years of honest and dedicated service to the people of the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to former Illinois State Representative Gary Hannig as an expression of our deep esteem and respect.