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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of our
4 esteemed colleague, former Illinois Representative and Senator
5 Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz, who passed away on January 5, 2009;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was born on December 20, 1938; after
8 graduating from Weber High School, he worked in a butcher shop
9 to put himself through college, receiving an associate's degree
10 from Wright Junior College and then a bachelor's degree in
11 economics from North Park College in 1960; he then performed
12 some graduate work at DePaul University; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz served his country with pride and
14 distinction as a member of the United States Army as the
15 Commander of Company A, 108 Supply and Transportation Battalion
16 of the 33rd Division; he later served in the United States Army
17 National Guard, achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant; and
 
18     WHEREAS, After graduating from college, Ted Lechowicz went
19 to work as a systems analyst for the Cook County Circuit
20 Courts; at the same time, he worked with the Democratic Party
21 as a precinct captain; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was elected to the Illinois General
2 Assembly in 1969, serving the people as Representative of
3 Illinois' 17th Representative District; rising rapidly through
4 the ranks, he served as Assistant Majority Leader during the
5 81st General Assembly and Assistant Minority Leader during the
6 82nd General Assembly; and
 
7     WHEREAS, In 1983, Ted Lechowicz was elected to serve the
8 people as Senator of Illinois' 6th Legislative District; once
9 again displaying his natural aptitude for leadership, he rose
10 through the ranks, serving as Assistant Majority Leader until
11 his retirement in 1992; and
 
12     WHEREAS, During his tenure in the Senate, Ted Lechowicz
13 served on many committees, including the Appropriations I,
14 Executive, Executive Appointments and Veterans' Affairs, State
15 Government Organization and Administration, and Transportation
16 committees; he served as vice-chairman of the Elections and
17 Reapportionment committee and served on the Economic and Fiscal
18 Commission and the Legislative Space Needs Commission; and
 
19     WHEREAS, In 1990, Ted Lechowicz was elected to the Cook
20 County Board of Commissioners, serving until 2002; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was a member of numerous community
22 organizations, including the Polish National Alliance, the

 

 

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1 Chicago Society, the Moose Lodge, the Knights of Columbus, the
2 Holy Name Society, Felician College, and the Lockwood
3 Improvement Association; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz was the recipient of numerous awards
5 from organizations such as the Young Democrats of Illinois, the
6 Polish American Police Association of Chicago, the Veterans of
7 Foreign Wars, the AFL-CIO, the United Polish American Council,
8 the Copernicus Foundation, the Wisla S.A.C., the Better Boys
9 Foundation, and the Northwest Lions; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz is survived by his wife of 44 years,
11 Suzanne; his son, Edward; his daughter, Laura; and his four
12 grandchildren; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Ted Lechowicz will be remembered by his former
14 colleagues, former constituents, and loved ones as a forceful
15 and effective legislator and as a warm and caring man;
16 therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
19 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of our
20 former colleague, Thaddeus "Ted" Lechowicz; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1 presented to the family of Ted Lechowicz as an expression of
2 our sympathy.