HR0559 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0559 LRB098 13556 GRL 48190 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the administration, staff, and students of Olney Central College in Olney on the occasion of the college's 50th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Olney Central College is a 2-year, co-educational public community college operated by Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District 529; Olney Central was founded in 1963 after a citizens' committee for education was formed by the president of the East Richland Community Unit 1 Board of Education; on June 13, 1962, the superintendent of public instruction approved a public referendum to determine if the voters of the East Richland school district supported a Class II Junior College; the referendum establishing Olney Community College passed 2,578 to 585 during a special election held on September 15, 1962; and

WHEREAS, On September 3, 1963, Olney Community College opened in the former Pure Oil Company building with a total enrollment of 154 students; Olney Community College subsequently experienced rapid growth; by the fall of 1965, the college had 303 students; soon after, efforts began to make Olney Community College a Class I Area College; in 1967, approval was received from the Junior College Board; in April of 1967, the college received Class I approval from the State Board of Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, On September 7, 1967, the referendum for Class I status for Olney Community College was approved by vote of 7,278 to 778; on July 1, 1968, Olney Community College officially became a Class I College and was renamed Olney Central College; the college then joined with Lincoln Trail College and Wabash Valley College to form what would become Illinois Eastern Community Colleges District 529; and

WHEREAS, In later years, Olney Central College grew steadily; the groundbreaking for Wattleworth Hall was held on December 8, 1971; in 1974, classes began in the new building; 2 years later, the college's gymnasium and the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center were built; and

WHEREAS, In the course of its 50-year history, Olney Central College has graduated over 18,500 students and has instructed thousands of other students; and

WHEREAS, Olney Central College will celebrate its 50th anniversary with numerous events planned throughout 2013; a special "50th Anniversary Celebration" will be held on October 23, 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the college; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the administration, staff, and students of Olney Central College on the occasion of the college's 50th anniversary and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Board of Trustees as a symbol of our esteem and respect.