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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Fire
4Chief Emeritus Paul H. Boecker of the Lisle-Woodridge Fire
5District, who passed away on August 14, 2011; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Chief Boecker began his career with the Naperville
7Fire Department in 1952; he left there as a Captain to become
8the Chief of the Lisle Fire Department in 1971; he was
9instrumental in turning the volunteer fire department into a
10full-time paid fire district during his tenure; and
 
11    WHEREAS, His guidance expanded the fire district to 5 fire
12stations and more than 80 personnel; under his leadership, the
13fire district attained an Insurance Service Office (ISO) Class
141 designation before his retirement in 1994; and
 
15    WHEREAS, During his career he received 9 Awards of
16Commendation, 4 Awards of Merit, and the coveted Firefighter of
17the Year Award in 1993 from the fire district, and he was named
18Employee of the Year in Woodridge; during the devastating
19tornado that struck Plainfield in 1990, Chief Boecker's efforts
20were noteworthy and he was one of 12 recipients of recognition
21for his outstanding leadership following the tornado; in 1983,
22he was one of 2 Chiefs honored with the Dictograph Security

 

 

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1Company "Public Safety Award"; and
 
2    WHEREAS, He was awarded the "Mason Lankford" fire service
3award, which was named after a personal friend; Chief Boecker
4served on several regional and national committees throughout
5his career and received many awards along the way; in 1954, he
6began the "Keep the Wreath Red" program, later adopted by
7DuPage County, and eventually recognized by the State of
8Illinois; he served as a charter member of the Educational
9Research Foundation for the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
10and as their President in 1980; in 1982 he was named as the
11Fire Chief of the Year in Illinois; and
 
12    WHEREAS, He served as a Field Instructor for the Illinois
13Fire Service Institute for more than 30 years and was the
14Chairman of the Illinois Fire College from 1972 until 1996; he
15served as a Co-Chairman for the Illinois Fire Chiefs
16Association Firefighter Funeral Committee; he was also a
17Founding Member, Director, and President of the DuPage Hundred
18Club, which provides benefits and support to spouses and
19families of fire and police officers who have lost their lives
20in the line-of-duty; Chief Boecker also served on a national
21level in various capacities with the National Fire Academy,
22International Fire Chiefs, Federal Management Emergency
23Agency, and several other fire schools; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Chief Boecker is survived by his wife, Sonja J.
2Boecker (Sinclair); his son, Paul H. Boecker III and his wife,
3Nancy (Martin) and their 2 children, Paul H. Boecker IV and
4John J. Boecker; his son, Alex J. Boecker and his wife, Krissie
5(Kegaly) and their son, Alex J. Boecker Jr.; and his sister,
6Ann S. Boecker; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9we mourn, along with his friends, family, fellow firefighters,
10and a grateful community, the passing of Chief Boecker; and be
11it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Fire Chief Paul Boecker as a symbol
14of our sincere sympathy and respect.