093_HJ0002sam001

 










                                     LRB093 02445 HSS 10971 a

 1              AMENDMENT TO HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 0002

 2        AMENDMENT NO.     .  Amend House Joint Resolution 0002 by
 3    replacing everything after the title with the following:

 4        "WHEREAS,  The   General   Assembly   takes   pride    in
 5    recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Illinois
 6    officials and citizens; and

 7        WHEREAS,  The   General  Assembly,  as  an  august  body,
 8    exercises discerning judgement in  resolutions  to  cite  the
 9    noted  achievements  of  a select few individuals, especially
10    when bestowing one of the highest methods of  recognition  by
11    the State; and

12        WHEREAS,  In recognition of the lasting legacies and many
13    sacrifices that Justice Michael Bilandic and Justice Benjamin
14    Miller  have made for the citizenry of the State of Illinois,
15    the  General  Assembly  would   like   to   recognize   these
16    individuals  with  the  rare honor of naming public buildings
17    after these former State officials; and

18        WHEREAS, Michael Anthony Bilandic was  one  of  the  more
19    influential  and  highly  regarded public figures in Chicago,
20    serving as Mayor of Chicago from 1976 to 1979  and  later  as
21    Chief  Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court; he was a man of
22    commitment and a loyal Chicagoan; most  importantly,  he  was
 
                            -2-      LRB093 02445 HSS 10971 a
 1    devoted  to  his family, faithful to his church, and proud of
 2    his Croatian heritage; he died on January 16,  2002,  at  the
 3    age  of  78; he is survived by his wife Heather, son Michael,
 4    brothers Steve and Nick, and sister Eleanor; and

 5        WHEREAS,  Born  on  February   13,   1923   to   Croatian
 6    immigrants,  Justice  Bilandic  grew  up  in  the  Bridgeport
 7    community  where he attended St. Jerome Grammar School (class
 8    of '36) and De  La  Salle  High  School;  after  receiving  a
 9    Bachelor  of  Science  degree  from  St.  Mary's  College, he
10    attended DePaul University College of Law where he  earned  a
11    Juris Doctor degree; during WWII, he courageously served as a
12    First Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps; and

13        WHEREAS, Justice Bilandic's political career was rich and
14    diverse,   including   service   in  all  three  branches  of
15    government  over  four  decades;  he  began  his   long   and
16    distinguished   public   service  career  in  1969  when  his
17    neighbors elected him to represent them as  Alderman  of  the
18    11th  Ward  in  Chicago;  as  a  member  of the City Council,
19    Alderman Bilandic pushed for the passage of many  initiatives
20    designed  to  protect the city's environment, including a ban
21    on harmful lead-based paint  and  on  phosphates  in  laundry
22    detergent,  and  the  passage  of  the  Lakefront  Protection
23    Ordinance;  considered  an  expert  in government finance, he
24    rose to serve as Chairman of the city's Finance Committee and
25    later became floor leader; and

26        WHEREAS, In 1976, Bilandic was selected by his colleagues
27    to serve as Mayor of Chicago; he was elected to  that  office
28    in 1977, and held the post until 1979; as Mayor, he continued
29    to  be  an  innovator  in  the area of enhancing the city; he
30    organized the first ChicagoFest, which was the  precursor  of
31    many  current  festivals, and lent his support to the Chicago
32    Marathon, which has become one of the premier running  events
33    in  the  world;  he  arranged  the city-insured, low-interest
 
                            -3-      LRB093 02445 HSS 10971 a
 1    mortgage loans for middle-income families in  order  to  make
 2    the city more appealing to families; his wise and intelligent
 3    concern   for   the   good  of  Chicago  is  evident  in  his
 4    accomplishments; and

 5        WHEREAS, Bilandic returned to  private  law  practice  in
 6    1979,  and  was  widely  respected for his keen intellect and
 7    exceptional insight into the intricacies of corporate law;  a
 8    new  career  was  begun with his election to the 1st District
 9    Appellate court and,  in  1990,  with  his  election  to  the
10    highest judicial office, the Illinois Supreme Court, where he
11    served  as  Chief  Justice  from  1994  through l996; Justice
12    Bilandic will always be remembered  for  his  long  years  of
13    unselfish  public  service,  characterized  by  his  decency,
14    intelligence,   and   integrity;  the  legacy  of  Bilandic's
15    dedication, devotion, and hard work serve as  an  example  to
16    all; a group of Chicago aldermen led the effort to rename the
17    State of Illinois Building after him; and

18        WHEREAS,  While much of Michael Bilandic's life was often
19    consumed by his outstanding legal and  political  career,  he
20    possessed  a  great passion for his family and heritage; both
21    of his parents came to the United States from Croatia in  the
22    early  1900s;  his mother, "Minnie" (Lebedina), came from the
23    village of Bobovisce on the  island  of  Brac,  Croatia;  his
24    father,   Mate   Bilandzic   (later   changed  to  Bilandic),
25    immigrated from Dicmo,  a  village  near  Sinj,  Croatia;  he
26    shared  his  family  roots  with  his wife and son, and often
27    visited Croatia; and

28        WHEREAS,  Following  a  peaceful  and  dignified   family
29    funeral  service,  Justice  Bilandic  was  quietly and humbly
30    buried beside his parents at  St.  Mary  Cemetery;  his  wife
31    described  him  as  "a  devoted  family  man (who) also loved
32    Chicago and its people, was proud of his  Croatian  heritage,
33    and   grateful  for  the  opportunities  which  this  country
 
                            -4-      LRB093 02445 HSS 10971 a
 1    provided to his family"; he was  a  gentle  soul,  a  man  of
 2    integrity,  honor,  and  dignity,  who brought gentleness and
 3    respect into the fields of government, law, politics, and all
 4    aspects of his life; and

 5        WHEREAS,  Justice  Michael   A.   Bilandic   made   vital
 6    contributions  of  service and merit to the State of Illinois
 7    and  to  the  State's  citizens  and  deserves  to  have  his
 8    achievements noted  and  remembered  by  current  and  future
 9    generations,  as  his  memory  is  now honored by the General
10    Assembly; and

11        WHEREAS,  Justice Benjamin K.  Miller  began  serving  as
12    Circuit  Court Judge in Illinois for the 7th Judicial Circuit
13    in 1976, was the Presiding Judge in that  Circuit's  criminal
14    felony  division,  and was in 1981 the Chief Judge of the 7th
15    Judicial Circuit; and he was elected in 1982  to  the  Fourth
16    District  Appellate Court and elected to the Illinois Supreme
17    Court in 1984, and was Chief Justice of the Illinois  Supreme
18    Court from 1991 to 1994; and

19        WHEREAS,  Justice   Miller  served  the  judicial  branch
20    wisely at all 3 levels of the Illinois  court  system,  wrote
21    numerous landmark judicial opinions, made noble contributions
22    to  jurisprudence,  and  served his profession, the citizens,
23    and the State of Illinois with integrity and distinction; and

24        WHEREAS,  These individuals have made vital contributions
25    of service and merit to the State  of  Illinois  and  to  the
26    State's citizens and deserve to have their achievements noted
27    and remembered by current and future generations, as they are
28    honored by the General Assembly today; therefore, be it

29        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
30    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF  ILLINOIS,  THE
31    SENATE  CONCURRING  HEREIN,  that  we  rename  the  State  of
32    Illinois  Building at 160 North La Salle Street in Chicago in
 
                            -5-      LRB093 02445 HSS 10971 a
 1    honor of Justice Michael Bilandic; and in  implementing  this
 2    honor,  we  designate  that  State  building  as  the Justice
 3    Michael Bilandic  State  of  Illinois  Building;  and  be  it
 4    further

 5        RESOLVED,  That  we  rename  the  4th  District Appellate
 6    Court Building at 201 West Monroe Street  in  Springfield  in
 7    honor  of  Justice  Benjamin Miller; and in implementing this
 8    honor, we  designate  that  court  building  as  the  Justice
 9    Benjamin Miller 4th District Appellate Court Building; and be
10    it further

11        RESOLVED,  That  suitable  copies  of  this  preamble and
12    resolution be presented to Justice Benjamin Miller and to the
13    family of Justice Michael Bilandic; and be it further

14        RESOLVED, That  suitable  copies  of  this  preamble  and
15    resolution be presented to the Director of Central Management
16    Services,  the  Chief  Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court,
17    and other operating authorities for the cited buildings.".