HR1335 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1335 LRB094 20593 HSS 58918 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate William E. Kessler on the occasion of his retirement after 34 years of service with Saint Anthony's Health System; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kessler began serving as the first lay administrator of St. Anthony's Hospital on January 24, 1972; in that position, he has been responsible for the development of the 243-bed, two-campus institution that provides acute surgical, medical, pediatric, psychiatric, and long term care; it also includes home health care, hospice care, obstetric care, chemical dependency treatment, cancer therapy, diabetes care, and programs in cardiac, stroke rehabilitation, and occupational health, and a wellness center, assisted living, and a medical mall; and

WHEREAS, As President and CEO of Saint Anthony's Health System, he undertook responsibility for Saint Anthony's Health Center, Saint Anthony's P.H.O., the Good Samaritan Center, Saint Clare's Villa, Community Physicians and Surgeons, and Saint Anthony's Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Under his leadership, Saint Anthony's Health Center received a prestigious Top 100 Hospital designation in 2000, and in 2005, it was the only hospital in the area to receive commendation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons; and

WHEREAS, He has been the recipient of numerous awards for his service and is active in numerous professional and civic organizations, often serving in a leadership capacity; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Kessler holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and a Master of Hospital Administration from Saint Louis University; he served as a member of the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps from 1968 to 1971 and held the rank of captain; he is married to Patricia W. Kessler and is the father of Tina, Father Bill, John (wife Dawn, son Collin), Tim (wife Rachel, son Andrew), Jenny (husband Chris), Kate, Joe (wife Annie), and Dan; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Mr. William E. Kessler on the occasion of his retirement, and we wish him well in his future endeavor as a permanent Deaconate for the Roman Catholic Church; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Kessler as an expression of our esteem and with best wishes for a relaxing retirement.