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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 15

 
2     WHEREAS, The General Assembly takes pride in recognizing
3 the accomplishments and contributions of Illinois officials
4 and citizens; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The late Senator Paul Simon's success in politics
6 began with the reformer's zeal he evidenced at the Troy
7 Tribune, where he was a crusading owner-editor, the nation's
8 youngest newspaper owner, before he was old enough to vote; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Senator Simon served eight years in the House of
10 Representatives; he married Jeanne Hurley of Wilmette in 1960,
11 becoming the first husband-and-wife team in the history of the
12 Illinois General Assembly; she preceded him in death in 2000;
13 and
 
14     WHEREAS, As a legislator, he was chief sponsor of the law
15 that required governmental agencies at all levels to open their
16 meetings to the public and the news media; he voluntarily
17 disclosed his personal finances in his first race for the State
18 legislature - long before any disclosure was required - and
19 continued baring his finances in more detail than the law
20 required throughout his political career; and
 
21     WHEREAS, In 1968, voters elected Republican Richard
22 Ogilvie as Governor and Democrat Paul Simon as Lieutenant
23 Governor, the only time in Illinois history that voters would
24 pair politicians of different parties for those offices; as
25 Lieutenant Governor, he held town meetings throughout the State
26 to field complaints about State government; following his term
27 as Lieutenant Governor, he started the public affairs reporting
28 program at Sangamon State University, now the University of
29 Illinois at Springfield; and
 
30     WHEREAS, In 1974, Senator Simon was elected to the U.S.

 

 

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1 House of Representatives, serving 10 years until winning
2 election to the U.S. Senate; he held the seat for 12 years
3 before retiring in 1997; he helped overhaul the federal student
4 loan program to enable students and their families to borrow
5 directly from the government; he advocated for liberal causes
6 and increased funding for social programs, but he also
7 campaigned for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S.
8 Constitution; he was known to be a man of integrity and a voice
9 for the less fortunate; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Following his retirement from the U.S. Senate,
11 Senator Simon took up teaching, writing, and heading the Public
12 Policy Institute, a think tank which he founded at Southern
13 Illinois University Carbondale; he married Patricia Derge in
14 2001; he is the recipient of several honorary degrees and other
15 accolades; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
18 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that in honor of his many
19 contributions to the citizens of the State of Illinois and this
20 great Nation, the portion of Illinois Route 162 in Troy
21 commencing at its intersection with U.S. 40 and ending at its
22 intersection with Formosa Road is hereby designated the Paul
23 Simon Parkway; and be it further
 
24     RESOLVED, That those portions of Interstate Routes 270
25 west, 55 north, 70 east, and 55/70 south that extend a distance
26 of 2 miles from the city of Troy be collectively designated the
27 Paul Simon Freeway; and be it further
 
28     RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
29 is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
30 State rules and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or
31 signs giving notice of these names; and be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
2 presented to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of
3 Transportation, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
4 Transportation, and the family of Senator Paul Simon.