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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives were saddened to learn of the passing of one of 
4our oldest and dearest friends, Bill Luking, on June 12, 2014; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, William H. Luking was born on August 7, 1947 in 
7Connersville, Indiana, the eldest of the 9 children of Lowell 
8and Elizabeth McCarthy Luking; he graduated from Connersville 
9High School in 1965, graduated cum laude from the University of 
10Notre Dame in 1969, and graduated from Northwestern University 
11Law School in 1972; he later served his country as a First 
12Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Bill Luking was one of the Statehouse's most 
14knowledgeable advocates; he was a wise expert who understood 
15State, local, and federal law; he loved his work and its focus 
16on complex issues involving taxation, economic development, 
17public pensions, and mass transit; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Beginning in 1986 under the administration of 
19Mayor Harold Washington, Bill Luking represented the City of 
20Chicago with commitment and skill; he would go on to serve as a 
21key advocate for the City for nearly 30 more years under Mayors 
22Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Bill Luking's talents, skills, and vast knowledge 
2helped him fight for millions of Chicagoans, conservationists, 
3and nature lovers as he represented the Chicago Public Schools, 
4the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the 
5City Colleges of Chicago, and - one of his favorites - the 
6Chicago Botanic Garden; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, In his years of distinguished service, Bill Luking 
8was instrumental in the passage of some of the most significant 
9laws affecting Chicago and its landscape, including the 
10construction of the new Comiskey Park, now U.S. Cellular Field; 
11the expansion of Soldier Field; the privatization of Midway 
12Airport; strengthening the City's authority over its school 
13system; and reforms that helped preserve the solvency of 
14Chicago's pension system and the retirement security of 
15countless numbers of municipal workers; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Bill Luking and his firm, Luking and Associates, 
17L.L.C., were proud of their pro bono work on behalf of the 
18Chicago Christian Industrial League, Tuesday's Child, the 
19Howard Area Community Association, the Chicago Children's 
20Advocacy Center, and the Southwest Youth Collaborative; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Bill Luking was regarded by his peers, whether 
22advocating on the same side of an issue or in opposition to 
 
 
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1him, as intelligent, forthright, and honest; he paved the way 
2for legislative success for many generations of newcomers to 
3the Capitol's corridors and his mastery of legislative history 
4and arcane Supreme Court decisions made him a better reference 
5source than Google; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Bill Luking was universally regarded as a 
7gentleman and a scholar, as well as a man of warmth and humor; 
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Bill Luking is survived by his siblings, Laura 
10(Peter) Jamison, Meg Luking, Mary Anne Morris, Beth Luking, 
11Gene (Debbie) Luking, Joe (Johnnie) Luking, Charlene (Larry) 
12Wood, and Rosemary (Jay) Card; 13 nieces and nephews; 13 
13great-nieces and great-nephews; and his friend and companion, 
14Claire Manning; therefore, be it
  
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
16NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
17we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of 
18Bill Luking; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the family of Bill Luking as a symbol of our deep 
21sympathies and great esteem.