HR0116 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0116 LRB097 02875 GRL 42899 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly takes pride in recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Illinois citizens; and

WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan was a visionary and pioneer of the Angus breed of cattle; and

WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan was a President of the American Angus Association and an inductee into the National Cattlemen's Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan's son John J. Tolan began working in the family business of breeding Angus show cattle before he started elementary school; and

WHEREAS, As a young teen, John J. Tolan received a national award, sponsored by Firestone Rubber Company, which recognized the most promising agricultural youth in the country; and

WHEREAS, J. Garrett Tolan's son John J. Tolan was a master breeder of multiple breeds of horses and cattle, but will likely be best remembered for his influence on the Angus cattle business; and

WHEREAS, The cattle and show circuit were John's life, and each year the main focus was to do well at the Chicago International, the world's premiere show for Angus cattle; and

WHEREAS, At the Chicago International, Tolan Farms showed 102 class winners and 85 Champions, bred 15 International Grand Champions, and exhibited 10 Best Ten Head groups; and

WHEREAS, The Tolan career record for Angus at all shows totaled 845 class winners and 385 Champions; and

WHEREAS, In 1951, Tolan Farms set a world record sale, which was the record sales price per head not only for Angus cattle, but also for livestock of any description, including Thoroughbred racehorses; and

WHEREAS, John J. Tolan served as a Director of the American Angus Association for 6 years; and

WHEREAS, John J. Tolan received many national honors and was voted by his peers as the number one breeder/judge of Angus cattle in the nation for 4 consecutive years; and

WHEREAS, John J. Tolan exhibited and judged Angus cattle at nearly every top tier show in North America; and

WHEREAS, John J. Tolan exhibited world and national champions of countless breeds and raced quarter horses and thoroughbreds for decades; and

WHEREAS, John J. Tolan could evaluate an animal's conformation in a split second and possessed a nearly photographic memory for both livestock and pedigrees; and

WHEREAS, John J. Tolan always loved that the livestock industry afforded one the opportunity to do business with and become friends with many interesting people; and

WHEREAS, Although John was widely viewed as a master breeder of livestock and was highly regarded, he was a modest man that deflected most praise that came his way; and

WHEREAS, The Tolans' immense contribution to Illinois agriculture and the development of Angus cattle should be recognized, and they deserve to have their achievements noted and remembered by current and future generations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate Barn 13 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield as the J. Garrett and John J. Tolan Barn in recognition of the contributions of J. Garrett and John Tolan to agriculture in the State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Director of Agriculture and the Director of Central Management Services.