HR0910 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0910 LRB095 17582 KXB 43656 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former State Representative Gene L. Hoffman, formerly of Elmhurst, who served the 40th District from 1966 to 1990, and who passed away on December 28, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hoffman was born on a farm in Canton on September 26, 1932; his family moved to Belvidere, where his parents continued their dual professions of farming and teaching; he went to Illinois State University, where he was captain of the championship wrestling team, co-captain of the football team, and was elected president of the junior class; he met his first wife, Diana, at the school and they were married in 1954; she passed away in 1990; and

WHEREAS, He graduated from Illinois State University in 1954 and he was drafted into the United States Army; he served for two years in Germany; after his discharge, Mr. Hoffman and his wife moved to Wood Dale, then Elmhurst, and raised four children; he received his Master's degree and Doctorate from Northern Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hoffman fulfilled his legislative duties and also taught social studies and was department chairman at Fenton High School in Bensenville; fondly known as "Mr. Education", he was the leading authority on education, school finance, and school issues in Springfield; as co-chairman of the Commission on Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mr. Hoffman helped author Senate Bill 730, that put into place practices that are now standard in today's public schools, such as district report cards, statewide student assessment exams, tests for basic skills for teacher-certificate applicants, and teacher evaluations; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Hoffman was chairman of the School Problems Commission from 1971 to 1973 and again from 1978 to 1984; the commission was made up of members of both political parties as well as members of the public, and became the first stop for legislation dealing with education; and

WHEREAS, During his time in the General Assembly, Mr. Hoffman was vice chairman of the Joint House/Senate Committee on Education Reform, vice chairman of the Task Force on Education for Employment, vice chairman of the Assembly Retirement System, and chairman of the governor's task force on pension funding; and

WHEREAS, His dedication to teaching and education earned him recognition from organizations such as Northern Illinois University, who awarded him the Distinguished Alumni Award; in addition, he received the "A-Plus Award" from the Illinois Education Association, the Legislator of the Year Award from the National Republican Legislators Association, and the Large Unit Education District Association's Mr. Education Award; and

WHEREAS, After his service concluded in the Illinois House, Mr. Hoffman worked as a lobbyist for the Chicago Board of Education, the DuPage County Forest Preserve, the Lake County Forest Preserve, and the RTA before the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, he married Sally Dingman; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Gene Hoffman will be deeply felt by his wife, Sally; his sons, Greg and Mark; his daughters, Lynn Price and Sue Scharffenberger; his stepsons, Mark Morley and Steven Morley; his stepdaughter, Kimberly Morley; his sisters, JoEllen Scambler and Jane Schleeter; and his nineteen grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of our former colleague and friend and extend our sincere condolences to his family at this time; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Gene L. Hoffman as an expression of our sympathy.