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90_HR0290
LRB9007876KBkb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives is pleased
3 to honor citizens of the State who have excelled in their
4 chosen profession; and
5 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst was born in rural New Douglas,
6 Illinois, on August 8, 1919; his parents were Fred and Louise
7 Barbracke Ernst; Fred attended a local one-room schoolhouse
8 through the eighth grade, attended three years of high school
9 at New Douglas High School, and graduated from Greenville
10 High School, the first member of his family to earn a high
11 school degree; upon graduation Fred went into farming with
12 his brother, Lester; he married Irma Keiser in 1949; Fred and
13 Irma are the proud parents of daughters, Karen and Marilyn;
14 Karen is married to Lawrence Ruschhaupt, and is the mother of
15 Tim and Mark; and
16 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst passed a milestone in township
17 government in September of 1997 when he celebrated his
18 fiftieth consecutive year as a township official in New
19 Douglas Township; on January 18, 1998, an open house will be
20 held at the New Douglas Community Center to recognize Fred
21 Ernst and his achievements; and
22 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst was appointed township tax assessor
23 on September 2, 1947, filling an unexpired term; at the time
24 of Mr. Ernst's appointment, the tax assessor had to assess
25 personal property in addition to real estate; in 1978 the
26 personal property tax was abolished, making his job somewhat
27 easier; in 1981 he ran for the office of township supervisor,
28 was elected, and will serve in the office until his term
29 expires in April of 2001; and
30 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst has worked to improve the area in and
31 around New Douglas Township; Mr. Ernst has worked to replace
32 all of the wood deck bridges in the area, paid for a new
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1 firehouse and two new fire engines with community development
2 funds, and aided people in need by helping them to obtain the
3 necessary government assistance; and
4 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst was asked to be a trustee of a new
5 Fire Protection District in January of 1953; he accepted the
6 position and became the first treasurer-trustee of the fire
7 district; Mr. Ernst continues to hold this position today; as
8 a result of his hard work, four new fire engine pumpers, a
9 new tanker truck, three used tanker trucks, and a new
10 firehouse were purchased for the district; and
11 WHEREAS, On June 3, 1960, Fred Ernst was asked to fill an
12 opening on the New Douglas Cemetery Board, a position he
13 still holds today; and
14 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst has served as a member of the New
15 Douglas Fire District board since 1976, and as President of
16 the board since 1982; and
17 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst is a lifelong member of Immanuel
18 Lutheran Church in New Douglas; he has held numerous
19 positions in the church, and has been chairman several times;
20 and
21 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst received a certificate of recognition
22 for twenty-five years of service, as county committeeman,
23 from the United States Department of Agriculture through the
24 Madison County ASCS office, on November 18, 1983; and
25 WHEREAS, Fred Ernst has deservedly reached a great
26 milestone in a great career; therefore, be it
27 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
28 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
29 congratulate Fred Ernst of New Douglas, Illinois, on reaching
30 this anniversary occasion; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to Fred Ernst.