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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Bill Lair,
4Managing Editor of the Mattoon Journal Gazette and the
5Charleston Times-Courier, on his retirement; and
 
6    WHEREAS, He began his career on July 1, 1973, serving as
7sports editor for the Times-Courier; he began reporting in time
8to see the Charleston High School football team advance to the
9State semifinals three consecutive years, the Eastern Illinois
10University basketball team qualify for several Division II
11tournaments, and many other sports highlights in the area; a
12considerable athlete himself, he has run seven marathons and
13seven half marathons; and
 
14    WHEREAS, He became managing editor of the Times-Courier in
151980, shortly after he left sports for a position in which he
16had both reporting and editing roles; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Among the highlights of his career, Mr. Lair has
18seen the Eastern Illinois University football team go to a
19national championship in 1978; his friend and former Eastern
20Illinois University classmate, Jim Edgar, elected Illinois
21Governor in 1990; and Mattoon's pursuit of the FutureGen plant;
22and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, He has written more than 3,000 columns and
2editorials in his distinguished journalistic career, at one
3time producing two columns every week; his hard work,
4dedication, and leadership at the Mattoon Journal Gazette and
5Charleston Times-Courier have contributed immeasurably to the
6education, entertainment, development, and welfare of the
7communities he has served; and
 
8    WHEREAS, He has also served the community in many other
9ways, including his participation in Rotary, the
10Lincoln/Sargent Foundation, the Court Appointed Special
11Advocate Board, the Fourth of July Committee, the Charleston
12Tourism Board, the Looking for Lincoln Committee, the
13Charleston Chamber of Commerce Board, the Tarble Arts Center,
14and the United Way of Coles County Board; he has served as a
15Charleston Holiday Tournament volunteer and a foster parent;
16and he continues to serve as chairman of the Central States
17Rotary Youth Exchange, a position he has held since 2007; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Bill Lair was honored as Charleston's Citizen of
19the Year in 2000; and
 
20    WHEREAS, He and his wife, Cheryl, are the parents of three
21children: David, Heather, and Patrick; he is looking forward to
22spending more time with his grandchildren and seeing what new

 

 

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1opportunities lie ahead; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we congratulate Bill Lair on his retirement, commend him for
5his many contributions to the people of Illinois, and wish him
6the best in his future endeavors; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to Bill Lair as a symbol of our respect and esteem.