HR0207 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0207 LRB097 11200 KXB 52927 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Bill Lair, Managing Editor of the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the Charleston Times-Courier, on his retirement; and

WHEREAS, He began his career on July 1, 1973, serving as sports editor for the Times-Courier; he began reporting in time to see the Charleston High School football team advance to the State semifinals three consecutive years, the Eastern Illinois University basketball team qualify for several Division II tournaments, and many other sports highlights in the area; a considerable athlete himself, he has run seven marathons and seven half marathons; and

WHEREAS, He became managing editor of the Times-Courier in 1980, shortly after he left sports for a position in which he had both reporting and editing roles; and

WHEREAS, Among the highlights of his career, Mr. Lair has seen the Eastern Illinois University football team go to a national championship in 1978; his friend and former Eastern Illinois University classmate, Jim Edgar, elected Illinois Governor in 1990; and Mattoon's pursuit of the FutureGen plant; and

WHEREAS, He has written more than 3,000 columns and editorials in his distinguished journalistic career, at one time producing two columns every week; his hard work, dedication, and leadership at the Mattoon Journal Gazette and Charleston Times-Courier have contributed immeasurably to the education, entertainment, development, and welfare of the communities he has served; and

WHEREAS, He has also served the community in many other ways, including his participation in Rotary, the Lincoln/Sargent Foundation, the Court Appointed Special Advocate Board, the Fourth of July Committee, the Charleston Tourism Board, the Looking for Lincoln Committee, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce Board, the Tarble Arts Center, and the United Way of Coles County Board; he has served as a Charleston Holiday Tournament volunteer and a foster parent; and he continues to serve as chairman of the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange, a position he has held since 2007; and

WHEREAS, Bill Lair was honored as Charleston's Citizen of the Year in 2000; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife, Cheryl, are the parents of three children: David, Heather, and Patrick; he is looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren and seeing what new opportunities lie ahead; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Bill Lair on his retirement, commend him for his many contributions to the people of Illinois, and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

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