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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly
3 learned with sadness of the death of Carl Nels Becker of
4 Petersburg, who passed away on April 13, 2006; and
 
5     WHEREAS, He was born on June 8, 1949, in Sheboygan,
6 Wisconsin, to Elmer Becker and Amy Nora Truesdale; he married
7 Peggy Parks on July 31, 1971, in Black Creek, Wisconsin; he
8 held a Bachelor's degree in biology from the University of
9 Wisconsin at Stevens Point and a Master's degree in ornithology
10 from Eastern Michigan University; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Mr. Becker worked as the Associate State Director
12 for Conservation Programs for the Illinois Chapter of the
13 Nature Conservancy; he held several positions within the
14 Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR); he was the
15 first Executive Director of the Illinois Endangered Species
16 Protection Board, the first Chief of the Division of Natural
17 Heritage, and served as Assistant Office Director of Realty and
18 Environmental Planning, before his retirement in December
19 2002; and
 
20     WHEREAS, He began working at IDNR in 1978 as a biologist
21 and quickly became a leader; during his tenure at IDNR, he
22 spearheaded the effort to create the Wildlife Preservation

 

 

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1 Fund, an income tax check-off program that provides money for
2 wildlife habitats; he also worked to pass legislation
3 allocating a portion of the Real Estate Transfer Tax to protect
4 natural areas and habitats for endangered and threatened
5 species; he played a critical role in conserving natural
6 habitats from Cook County to the Cache River State Natural
7 Area, laden with cypress trees, in the southernmost tip of
8 Illinois; he also was instrumental in efforts to save the
9 dwindling territory of the prairie chicken in southern Illinois
10 and to encourage peregrine falcons to roost among the Chicago
11 Loop's skyscrapers; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Mr. Becker was a national leader in conservation
13 issues, serving as Illinois representative with the
14 International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to push
15 for the Teaming with Wildlife Initiative; he was the past
16 president of the Natural Areas Association and was a member of
17 several conservation organizations; and
 
18     WHEREAS, In addition to his work to protect Illinois nature
19 areas, he was a leader in his community, serving as President
20 of the Lake Petersburg Association and Chair of the Menard
21 County Zoning Board of Appeals; a member of Petersburg United
22 Methodist Church, he was active in his church, serving on the
23 board of trustees; he also served as a Cub Scout leader and
24 coached youth soccer, softball, and baseball; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, The passing of Carl Nels Becker has been deeply
2 felt by many, especially his wife, Peggy Becker; his sons,
3 Jason Becker and Jared Becker; his daughter, Jenifer Becker;
4 and his sister, Jane Kesting; therefore, be it
 
5     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
6 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
7 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we mourn the passing of Carl
8 Nels Becker, who will be remembered as a champion for the
9 environment, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family,
10 friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
11     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12 presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest
13 condolences.