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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi represented the citizens of
3the State of Illinois and the families of the 43rd Legislative
4District from January of 2005 until February of 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Arthur "A.J." Wilhelmi, the son of Arthur and Mary
6Beth Wilhelmi, was born and raised in Joliet; he attended St.
7Paul the Apostle Elementary School and Joliet Catholic Academy;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi attended Loyola University
10of Chicago, graduating cum laude in 1990 with a degree in
11English and minors in philosophy and political science; he
12subsequently enrolled in the Chicago-Kent College of Law,
13graduating in June of 1993 and passing the State Bar
14Examination in October of that year; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi began his private career
16when he joined the McKeown Law Firm, where he specialized in
17real estate and business law; in April of 2008, he joined Murer
18Consultants as a senior consultant; he later became a partner
19in the newly created law firm of Murer, Brick, & Wilhelmi, LLC;
20and
 
21    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi's Illinois Senate career

 

 

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1has been characterized by a sincere and fervent dedication to
2service of his community, his State, and the people of his
3district; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi was first appointed to the
5Illinois Senate from the 43rd Legislative District in January
6of 2005; he was elected to the position in 2006 and reelected
7in 2010; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi's time in the Illinois
9Senate has been marked by his strong and effective advocacy for
10Will County and the communities of the 43rd District, including
11Bolingbrook, Channahon, Crest Hill, Elwood, Fairmont, Joliet,
12Lemont, Lockport, Manhattan, Naperville, Preston Heights,
13Rockdale, Romeoville, and Shorewood; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi's primary focus in the
15Illinois Senate has been improving the lives of the people of
16Will County by bringing jobs and economic development to his
17home community; he passed a law that helped create intermodal
18facilities in Elwood and Joliet, creating thousands of jobs and
19helping make Will County the largest inland port in North
20America; he also worked with his colleagues and members of
21Congress to build a new interchange at Weber Road and
22Interstate-355, bringing new economic development to Joliet
23and Will County; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi's career in the Illinois
2Senate has been highlighted by his strong commitment to
3veterans, a commitment he displayed by twice sponsoring
4legislation to limit disruptive and inflammatory protests
5during funerals for veterans and all others; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi demonstrated his commitment
7to improving the lives of all Illinois residents by serving as
8the chief Senate sponsor of the law allowing adult adoptees to
9receive copies of their original birth certificates, giving
10them access to their own history and helping them learn who
11they are, where they came from, and their family's medical
12history; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi has served as a member on a
14variety of different Senate Committees, including the Senate
15Committees on Appropriations, Criminal Law, Education,
16Environment, Gaming, Housing and Community Affairs, Judiciary -
17 Civil Law, Judiciary, Local Government, and Transportation;
18he also served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
19during the 96th and 97th General Assemblies, Chairman of the
20Senate Judiciary - Criminal Law Committee during the 95th
21General Assembly, and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Agriculture
22and Conservation Committee during the 94th, 96th, and 97th
23General Assemblies; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi has been active in a variety
2of community organizations; he co-sponsored the building of the
313th Will County Habitat for Humanity home; he served as
4chairman of the board for the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce
5in 2003 after serving in a variety of other posts for the
6organization; he also served as chairman of the Diplomats
7Committee for the Will County Center for Economic Development,
8chairman of the Collins Street Task Force, member of the Will
9County Center for Community Concerns Board of Directors, and
10board member of the Joliet Grade Schools Foundation for
11Educational Excellence; he has also been active with his alma
12mater, serving as president of the Joliet Catholic Academy
13Alumni Board from 1999 to 2001; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi has been the recipient of
15numerous awards in recognition of his strong leadership on
16issues important to his district and the State of Illinois,
17including the Agriculture Certified Legislator Award from the
18Illinois Farm Bureau, the Legislator Hero Award from
19IllinoisVictims.org, the Friend of Agriculture Award from the
20Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Pork Producers Legislative
21Award, the Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award from the
22Illinois Association of Park Districts, and the Legislator of
23the Year Award from the Illinois Association of Fire Protection
24Districts; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi is also recognized as a
2strong family man; he and his wife, Michelle, are raising their
33 daughters, Maycen, Laine, and Marin, in their home in Joliet;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, Senator A.J. Wilhelmi will be dearly missed by his
6colleagues and all with whom he has worked for his dedication,
7professionalism, passion, humor, and willingness to find
8common sense approaches to governing; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Senator Arthur
11"A.J." Wilhelmi for his years of service to the people of the
1243rd Legislative District and the people of the State of
13Illinois and honor him with this resolution, extending to him
14and his family our very best wishes for a long and happy
15future; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to Senator A.J. Wilhelmi as a symbol of our gratitude
18and esteem.