HR1394 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1394 LRB098 23511 MST 62701 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Representative JoAnn D. Osmond has faithfully served the constituents of the 61st District since 2002, following in the footsteps of her late husband Timothy; she retired from public service this summer, bringing to conclusion a career in public service that spanned more than 30 years; and

WHEREAS, Upon her graduation from Holy Child High School in Waukegan, Representative Osmond enjoyed an 18-year career in the field of law, including 6 years as a paralegal in Washington, D.C.; she also served as Executive Director of the Lake County Bar Association from 1977 until 1982; and

WHEREAS, Representative Osmond is the past owner of Osmond Insurance Services, Ltd. in Antioch, and has been a licensed insurance broker in auto, life, and commercial insurance for nearly 30 years; her vast experience in the field of insurance led to her appointment as Republican Spokesperson on the Insurance Committee in the Illinois House of Representatives for 4 years; and

WHEREAS, Representative Osmond's legislative experience dates back more than 30 years when she became the legislative aide to newly elected Representative Robert W. Churchill in 1983, a position she held until 1999, before serving in the same capacity for Representative Sidney Mathias until 2001; her service as Legislative Aide included Representative Churchill's tenure as Illinois House Majority Leader from 1995 until 1997; and

WHEREAS, Representative Osmond became a Illinois State Representative in 2002; she focused on continuing her life's work on behalf of Illinois families and taxpayers; she served on various Committees, including Appropriations-Public Safety, Veterans Affairs, Insurance, Tourism & Conventions, and Public Safety: Police & Fire Committees, and she was the Republican Spokesperson on the Human Services Committee for the 98th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, Representative Osmond took a leading role in the General Assembly as a champion of mandated placement of defibrillation devices, called AED machines, in Illinois public places; because of her, school vestibules, college lecture halls, exercise gyms, and local halls of government have AEDs ready to help save a life; and

WHEREAS, Representative Osmond's community involvement has included service on the Board of Directors of the Antioch Mental Health Association from 1992 to 2001, serving as President from 2000 to 2001; she was a Trustee and Treasurer of the First Fire Protection District of Antioch from 1993 to 2004, a member of the Parish Council Finance Committee for St. Peter Church from 1994 to 2002, a member of St. Peter's Parish Council of Catholic Women, a member of the Lake County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee, a member of Wings - Women Interested in Government - from 2003 to 2008, and a member of the Illinois Stroke Task Force; in 2007, she became a member of the State Bank of the Lakes Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Representative Osmond has been honored by various groups and organizations over the years, including the State Farm Insurance Embrace Life Award in 2004; the Illinois Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011; the American Heart Association's Life Saver Award in 2004; the Friend of Gavin School Award in 2004; the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International Award in 2006; the Community Action Partnership of Lake County Legislator Award; the Champion of Free Enterprise Award in 2009 and 2010; and the Lillian Golonka Award; she was recognized by the National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce in 2007 and 2008; she was also named the 2008 recipient of the Adam C. Skrzenta Leadership Award from the Grant Township Republican Club; and

WHEREAS, Representative Osmond was married to the late State Representative Timothy H. Osmond, himself a longtime leader in the civic and business community as well as State government; she is the proud mother of 2 children, daughter, Colleen (Ed) and son, Michael (Nicole), and the proud grandmother of 5 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize State Representative JoAnn D. Osmond and congratulate her on a lifetime of dedicated service to the people of the State of Illinois, and we wish her a very happy retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Representative Osmond as an expression of our esteem and respect.