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91_HR0037
LRB9102033KBkb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives wish to honor Donald Fites, Chairman and
4 C.E.O. of Caterpillar, Inc.; and
5 WHEREAS, As Chairman and C.E.O. of Caterpillar, Donald
6 Fites has implemented several strategic initiatives that will
7 lead Caterpillar into the next century as a leader in its
8 field; sales and revenues for the company have increased 65
9 percent to $18.9 billion and profits have increased to $1.67
10 billion; and
11 WHEREAS, In the early 1990s Mr. Fites led the company in
12 its restructuring, achieving a greater return on assets,
13 gaining a better use of resources, achieving a flatter
14 organization, and having a greater focus on customers; in the
15 1980s, he provided incentive for product and market
16 innovations, including Caterpillar Logistics Services,
17 marketer for parts distribution to other companies; in 1975
18 he directed a study of engine capacity, setting the company's
19 course for their engine business in the 1990s; and
20 WHEREAS, Mr. Fites became a corporate vice president in
21 1981, an executive vice president in 1985, a director in
22 1986, and president and chief operating officer in 1989; for
23 16 years Mr. Fites worked in overseas management positions,
24 including positions in Southern Africa, Central Europe,
25 Tokyo, Japan, and Sao Paulo, Brazil; and
26 WHEREAS, Mr. Fites has a Bachelor's Degree in civil
27 engineering from Valparaiso University and a Master's Degree
28 in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
29 where he was a Sloan Fellow; he was awarded an honorary
30 Doctor of Laws Degree from Bradley University in 1994 and an
31 honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Valparaiso University in
32 1998; and
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1 WHEREAS, Mr. Fites is a director of the Mobil
2 Corporation, the Georgia-Pacific Corporation, and AT&T; he is
3 a past chairman of the Business Roundtable, the U.S.-Japan
4 Business Council, the National Foreign Trade Council, and the
5 Equipment Manufacturers' Institute; and
6 WHEREAS, Mr. Fites is a director of the National
7 Association of Manufacturers and a member of the Business
8 Council, and the President's Advisory Committee for Trade
9 Policy and Negotiations; he was the recipient of the
10 Consumers for World Trade Annual Award in 1998, was named CEO
11 of the Year by Financial World magazine in 1995; and received
12 the Salvation Army's William Booth Award for his dedication
13 to the Salvation Army; and
14 WHEREAS, Donald Fites serves as a trustee of Knox
15 College, a director of Valparaiso University, chairman of the
16 World Methodist Council Financial Development Committee, and
17 Chairman-elect of the Salvation Army National Advisory Board;
18 he recently served as national chairman of the Centennial
19 Campaign for Bradley University and chairman of the Central
20 Illinois Easter Seal Capital Campaign; and
21 WHEREAS, Donald Fites is a good example of how hard work
22 and commitment to a career can benefit oneself and others;
23 therefore, be it
24 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
25 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
26 we honor Donald Fites for his service and dedication to
27 Caterpillar, Inc., and the people of Illinois; and be it
28 further
29 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
30 presented to Mr. Donald Fites.