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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly wishes to present
3 this resolution as a tribute to and acknowledgment of Oprah
4 Winfrey's contributions to the State of Illinois, the nation,
5 and the world; we benefit immensely from her presence in
6 Illinois; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in
8 Kosciusko, Mississippi; and
 
9     WHEREAS, She began her broadcasting career at WVOL radio in
10 Nashville while still in high school; at the age of 19, she
11 became the youngest person and the first African-American woman
12 to anchor the news at Nashville's WTVF-TV; and
 
13     WHEREAS, In 1976, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland to join
14 WJZ-TV news as a co-anchor of the Six O'Clock News, and in
15 1978, discovered her talent for hosting talk shows when she
16 became co-host of WJZ-TV's talk show "People Are Talking",
17 while continuing to serve as anchor and news reporter; in
18 January 1984, she moved to Chicago to host WLS-TV's morning
19 talk show "AM Chicago", which became the number one local talk
20 show just one month after she began; in less than a year, the
21 show expanded to one hour and, in September 1985, was renamed
22 "The Oprah Winfrey Show"; in 1986, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was
23 syndicated and aired in 107 countries with 23 million viewers;
24 and
 
25     WHEREAS, She has impacted the media of television,
26 publishing, film, philanthropy, education, and health and
27 fitness; and
 
28     WHEREAS, In the television medium, the film medium, and the
29 print medium, she serves as chairperson of HARPO, Inc., HARPO
30 Productions, Inc.; HARPO Studios Inc., HARPO Films, Inc., HARPO

 

 

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1 Print, LLC, and HARPO Video, Inc.; and
 
2     WHEREAS, She has received numerous awards, including the
3 George Foster Peabody Individual Achievement Award (1996); the
4 International Radio and Television Society's "Broadcaster of
5 the Year" Award (1996); Newsweek's "Most Important Person" in
6 books and media; TV Guide's "Television Performer of the Year"
7 (1997); Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of the
8 20th Century"; the National Academy of Television Arts and
9 Sciences' Lifetime Achievement Award (1998); the National Book
10 Foundation's 50th Anniversary Gold Medal (1999); the Bob Hope
11 Humanitarian Award; Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame (2002);
12 the Association of American Publishers AAP Honors Award (2003);
13 the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service
14 Award; and Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the
15 World" (2004); and
 
16     WHEREAS, After receiving 39 Daytime Emmy Awards, seven for
17 Outstanding Host, nine for Outstanding Talk Show, 21 in the
18 Creative Arts categories, and one for Oprah's work as
19 supervising producer of the ABC After School Special "Shades of
20 Single Protein", Oprah removed herself from future Emmy
21 consideration in 1999, and the show followed suit in 2000; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Her never-ending philanthropy has been
23 exemplified by such activities as ChristmasKindness South
24 Africa 2002; Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls-South
25 Africa (opening 2007); and the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program;
26 among her many ventures that have improved the lives of
27 countless individuals are Oprah's Angel Network; Oprah's Book
28 Club; the Live Your Best Life Tour; her service as national
29 spokesperson for "A Better Chance"; and her service as an
30 advocate for the National Child Protection Act, which was
31 signed on December 20, 1993 by President Clinton and declared
32 the "Oprah Bill"; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
3 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the first week of February in
4 2007 and each subsequent year shall be known as Oprah Winfrey
5 Week to recognize the innumerable achievements of Ms. Winfrey,
6 as well as her mark on the world as an African-American woman;
7 and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9 presented to Oprah Winfrey as an expression of our utmost
10 respect and esteem.