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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate Mayor Mark William Eckert 
4on the occasion of his 60th birthday; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert was born in the City of Belleville on 
6January 18, 1956 to Robert
Henry and Shirley Ann "Ma" Eckert; 
7he has a brother, Mike, who is married to Jean; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert grew up in Belleville and attended 
9Henry Raab School and Central Jr. High; and
 
10    WHEREAS, On March 19, 1973, Mayor Eckert began working for 
11Pete Gaerdner Funeral Home and Ambulance
Service and continued 
12his employment there for a total of 15 years until 1988; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert graduated from  Belleville West High 
14School in 1974, where he participated in many school 
15activities,
was elected Class President, and became the first 
16recipient of the Student of the Year Award; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert is a graduate of the Southwestern 
18Illinois Police Academy and studied at Belleville
Area College 
19for Law Enforcement and Paramedic EMT Training; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert married Rita nearly 30 years ago on 
2April 5, 1986 and they have 4 children: Matt Joseph, who 
3married Carly Miller on May 30, 2015; Kate Ann; Luke Joseph, 
4who became
engaged to Erika Roche on October 30, 2015; and Lucy 
5Ann; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert co-founded the Franklin Neighborhood 
7Community Association and served as its
Executive Director from 
81992 until 1995; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert was active in Boy Scouting throughout 
10his life and served as Scoutmaster for 12 years,
where by his 
11guidance, Matt and Luke achieved the rank of Eagle Scout along 
12with almost 30 other scouts; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert is a life-long member and past 
14President of St. Paul United Church of Christ; and
 
15    WHEREAS, From 1997 until 2004, Mayor Eckert served as 
16Alderman for Ward 5 for the City of Belleville; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, On December 20, 2004, Mayor Eckert was appointed 
18Mayor of the City of Belleville, and in April of 2005, he was 
19elected to serve a 4-year term; he was elected to a  third term 
20in April of 2009 and a fourth term in April of 2013; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert has earned many awards in his career 
2and he continues to expand his service and
dedication to 
3enhancing programs and services for the City of Belleville by 
4serving on numerous boards and
committees, including as 
5Vice-President for the Illinois Municipal League Board and as 
6President for the
Southwestern Illinois Council of Mayors; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert and his wife have owned and operated 
8Eckert Florist for 16 years, since September 9, 1999; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Mayor Eckert is known for his unconditional love 
10for his family, strong character, devout
leadership, 
11commitment to his community, volunteerism spirit, and for 
12promoting the vision and growth of
Belleville; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
15congratulate Mayor Mark William Eckert on his 60th birthday and 
16wish him many more wonderful years; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to Mayor Eckert as an expression of our esteem and 
19respect.