SR1102 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James R. Rakow of Algonquin, who passed away on December 10, 2010; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow was born on December 15, 1928, in Elgin; his parents were Waldemar Alvin and Jeanette (Taylor) Rakow; and

WHEREAS, At an early age, James Rakow worked with his father in surveying business surveying roads in Kane, McHenry, and Lake Counties; in 1949, he graduated from Elgin High School; he then continued his education at Bradley University, where he graduated with a degree in engineering; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the United States Navy aboard the USS Cunningham during the Korean War; he graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1953 with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade; in 1967, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve as a lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow was a partner with his father in WA Rakow Engineering & Surveying in Elgin for more than 15 years; he also worked for Baxter Woodmand in Crystal Lake; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow served as the McHenry County Superintendent of Roads/Engineer for more than 24 years; during his tenure, he put in more than 11 years of legwork and played a vital role in procuring the right of way for the road connecting Route 31 with Randall Road, which was completed after he left the position; the road was named James R. Rakow Road in honor of his many contributions to its construction; he oversaw and planned the replacement of Pearl Street Bridge in McHenry, the Rawson Road Bridge, and many county bridges, which included widening of the pavement and shoulders; he was instrumental in the building of the Charles Miller Bridge in McHenry, having helped purchase the land and engineering the roads east and west of the new bridge; he was actively involved with local, township, and county agencies in the development, expansion, and improvement of numerous roads, including the Randall Road north/south corridor, the Algonquin Road widening, and the Northern Algonquin Bypass (now known as the Western Algonquin Bypass); he was responsible for the construction and maintenance of more than 200 miles of county roads; he worked diligently to reconfigure the Township Highway Commissioner operations; he promoted and aided in the development of the current McHenry County Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances; he also laid the groundwork for McHenry County Stormwater Ordinance and upgraded the Highway Department to meet the demands of the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow served as an adviser to and board member of CATS (Chicago Area Transit System) and was actively involved with numerous area engineering associations and societies; from 1993 to 2005, he was employed at SEC Group Inc. in McHenry; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow was very active with the Elgin YMCA in his younger years; he enjoyed playing racquetball and handball, golfing, boating, crossword puzzles, the Chicago Bears, and the Chicago Cubs; he also enjoyed traveling with his wife in the British Virgin Islands on various sailing vessels; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Lois Rakow Graning; his son, Steven Rakow; and his grandson, Alex Grossman; and

WHEREAS, James Rakow is survived by his best friend and loving wife, Phyllis K. Walters; his loving children, Diane (Charles) Griffin, Ansley Webster, Andrea Walters, and Anthony (Sheri) Walters; his cherished grandchildren, Luke, Jessica, and Rebecca Grossman, Jennifer (Michael) Tramantana, April Molenda, Laurin Adeniran, Abigail Lindahl, and Ashley, Benjamin, and Cole Walters; his treasured great-grandchildren, Len Molenda-Nichols and Destiny Molenda-Nichols; his sister, Ruth Ann Rakow Crandall; his brother-in-law, Chris Kobel; and his sister-in-law, Marie Holtz; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of James R. Rakow; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of James Rakow as an expression of our sympathy.