HR0978 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0978 LRB095 19209 GRL 45460 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. David L. Thomas, Chief of the Illinois Natural History Survey, on the occasion of his retirement on February 29, 2008; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Natural History Survey is a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is the largest and best known of the various State natural history surveys; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas served as the Director of the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center from 1985 until 1997, when he became Chief of the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS); and

WHEREAS, As Chief of INHS, Dr. Thomas has focused on several issues, including those related to invasive exotic species; in 2000, he served as the non-federal co-chair for the Research and Information Workgroup for the National Invasive Species Advisory Committee, a council that coordinates federal activities regarding invasive species; he has served on a number of Illinois Department of Natural Resources Invasive Species committees and workgroups; he currently serves as a member of the Illinois Invasive Plant Species Board; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas has been involved with the University of Illinois in many capacities; he currently represents the INHS as a member of the Arboretum Board and as a member of the Environmental Council; he is a member of the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, a collaborative effort between the University of Illinois College of ACES, Lewis and Clark Community College, and INHS which promotes research, education, and further understanding of large river issues; the Center is currently in the process of developing a state-of-the-art field station in Alton which will greatly further their goals; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas has served on various committees addressing contaminant issues at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (the former Joliet Arsenal) and the Calumet area; his expertise was critical in developing plans that allow these areas to become valuable for wildlife conservation and human recreation; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas served as the chair of the American Fisheries Society committee that addressed Farm Bill 2002; the committee's work concluded with a "Pending Legislation Opinion" article in the November 2001 issue of Fisheries magazine; he recently became a board member for the Chicago Wilderness Trust, an alliance of public and private organizations working together to preserve and manage the natural ecosystems of the Chicago region; he also served previously as an active member of the CW Steering Committee; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas has devoted much of his time to the restoration of the Illinois River; he served on the Science Advisory Committee to the Illinois River Coordinating Council and The Nature Conservancy Science Advisory Committee for the restoration of Emiquon, one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his many activities in the State of Illinois, Dr. Thomas has also worked nationally and internationally in the area of pollution prevention and sustainable development; he served on the first Governing Board for the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable from 1990 to 1994 and as Chair of the Board of Directors from October 1993 until September 1994; he also represented the Roundtable on EPA's American Institute of Pollution Prevention (AIPP) from 1992 through 1996; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement, Dr. Thomas plans to remain active in various environmental causes, including the fundraising efforts for INHS's upcoming 150th Anniversary Celebration and various research projects; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. David L. Thomas on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. David L. Thomas as a symbol of our esteem and respect.