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92_SR0391 LRB9216602BHbhA 1 SENATE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger, the mayor and former State 3 representative who ushered Wheaton through some of its most 4 explosive growth, passed away on April 2, 2002; and 5 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger was born in Oak Park on January 24, 6 1923; he graduated from Glenbard West in 1941 and went into 7 the U.S. Army Air Corps, where he served in the European 8 theater during World War II; and 9 WHEREAS, Mr. Barger became mayor of Wheaton in 1971 10 amidst the plans to build the 20-story Wheaton Center 11 apartment buildings near the downtown train station; he went 12 on to lead the city for 12 years as the Farnham, Briarcliff, 13 Scottdale, and Butterfield Ridge subdivisions, as well as an 14 addition to the library, the city's second fire station and 15 the new West Street commuter train station, were built; the 16 Danada property on the city's south side was also annexed at 17 the end of his tenure in 1982; and 18 WHEREAS, For his years as mayor, Mr. Barger is considered 19 one of the best mayors in the history of Wheaton; and 20 WHEREAS, Mr. Barger served with distinction in the House 21 of Representatives from January 1983 until January 1990; 22 during his tenure in the General Assembly, he served on the 23 Committees on Aging, Consumer Protection, Executive, Housing, 24 Labor, Commerce, and served as minority spokesman for the 25 Cities and Villages Committee; and 26 WHEREAS, In addition to his public service, Mr. Barger 27 operated his own business, Grafic Foto, which he operated out 28 of his Wheaton home for 25 years; and 29 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger was a member of American Legion 30 Post #76 and served on the board of directors of Dieke 31 Center; in addition he was a Republican precinct committeeman -2- LRB9216602BHbhA 1 and a lifetime member of the Wheaton Lions Club; and 2 WHEREAS, Ralph Barger was the beloved husband of Beverly 3 Barger; dear father of Ralph Hugh Barger, Susan Donahue, 4 Barbara (Donald) Schmitt, Cynthia Neeld, and Martha Barger; 5 loving grandfather of Jonathan and Jeffrey Barger, Katherine 6 Barger and James Schmitt; and fond brother of Robert Barger; 7 therefore, be it 8 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL 9 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 10 all who knew him, the death of Ralph Barger of Wheaton; and 11 be it further 12 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 13 presented to the family of Ralph Barger with our sincere 14 condolences.