HR1419 LRB095 21775 GRL 51990 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, John Wood Community College is one of 39 public
3 community college districts in the State of Illinois, with a
4 credit enrollment each semester of more than 2,700 students and
5 with a wide range of programs and services serving the area;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, John Wood Community College has a tremendous
8 economic impact on the entire region, in addition to the
9 individual students who benefit from a JWCC education; and
 
10     WHEREAS, William Simpson will retire as President of John
11 Wood Community College in August of 2008 after 40 years in
12 higher education; and
 
13     WHEREAS, William Simpson has served as President of John
14 Wood Community College since February of 1997 and is currently
15 one of the longest-serving community college presidents in
16 Illinois; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Prior to his arrival at John Wood Community
18 College, William Simpson served as Dean of Marshalltown
19 Community College and as Vice President of Academic Affairs for
20 the Iowa Valley Community College District; he was also
21 employed in various positions at Olympic College in Bremerton,

 

 

HR1419 - 2 - LRB095 21775 GRL 51990 r

1 Washington, Black Hawk College's East Campus in Kewanee, and
2 Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg; and
 
3     WHEREAS, During Dr. Simpson's tenure at JWCC, student
4 enrollment has grown by more than 20 percent, several new
5 career programs have been added, and the Quincy campus has
6 expanded from having only one building to a full-service campus
7 with four primary academic buildings, plus the Student Activity
8 Center and a maintenance building; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson has been active in professional and
10 educational organizations on many levels, including the Board
11 of Directors of the National Junior College Athletic
12 Association and the Board of Trustees of Monmouth College; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson's commitment to the community college
14 mission has earned him several awards, including two from Phi
15 Theta Kappa International Honor Society, the Michael Bennett
16 Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and the Shirley B. Gordon
17 Award in 2006 for his outstanding efforts toward promoting the
18 goals of Phi Theta Kappa; he was also the recipient of the
19 NCJAA's Service Award for having made significant
20 contributions to community college athletics on a national
21 level; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson also has been very active in civic

 

 

HR1419 - 3 - LRB095 21775 GRL 51990 r

1 organizations, having served on the Quincy Family YMCA Board
2 and the Adams County United Way Board of Directors; he also
3 served as President of the Rotary Club of Quincy; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson holds a doctor of education and a
5 master of arts degree from Illinois State University and a
6 bachelor of arts degree from Monmouth College; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson and his wife, Joyce Simpson, a retired
8 educator with Quincy University, have two married daughters and
9 two grandchildren; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Dr. Simpson serves as a model of hard work,
11 integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of
12 Illinois; therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15 congratulate William Simpson on the occasion of his retirement
16 and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and
17 be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to William Simpson as a symbol of our esteem and
20 respect.