HR0804 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0804 LRB097 20533 KXB 66326 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Frank M. Clark, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Edison Company, is retiring after 46 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clark, who started in the ComEd mailroom in 1966 and, through dedication, skill, and hard work, rose to the highest office within one of Illinois' most vital and historically significant companies; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clark's time with the company was interrupted only once, with his service to the United States in the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, Since joining ComEd in 1966, he rose steadily through the ranks, holding various positions in both corporate support and line functions; prior to his appointment as chairman and chief executive officer of ComEd, Mr. Clark served as president of ComEd, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company, and executive vice president and chief of staff of Exelon; and

WHEREAS, During his 46-year career at ComEd, he held key leadership positions at a number of business-critical functions across the company, including: customer service operations; marketing and sales; regulatory, governmental and community affairs; information technology; communications; human resources; labor relations; and distribution services; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clark serves on the board of trustees of the Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, DePaul University, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Chicago Medical Center; he also is on the board of directors of Metropolitan Family Services, the Illinois Manufacturers Association, Big Shoulders Fund, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, and the executive committee of The Chicago Community Trust; he sits on the governing board of Econ Illinois and is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Economic Club of Chicago, The Commercial Club of Chicago, and the Executives' Club of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clark is a committee member of Chicago 2016 and a co-founder of the Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy on Chicago's west side; he serves on the board of directors for Waste Management, Inc., Harris Financial Corp., and Aetna Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clark received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Governors State University and an honorary Doctor of Law degree from DePaul University; he has received numerous awards including the prestigious HistoryMakers Award and the National Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice; in 2008, U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine named him to its annual list of the 100 Most Important Blacks in Technology; he also was ranked among the 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in America by Fortune magazine in 2002; and

WHEREAS, He received his bachelor's degree and law degree from DePaul University; and

WHEREAS, While attending DePaul University to complete his law degree, he and his wife, Vera, would eat dinner in their car after his day at ComEd was over and before his law classes would begin; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clark was instrumental in helping reform, revitalize, and restructure the State's electric industry, as Illinois has now become a national leader in electric service competition and customer choice; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clark has served as a mentor to countless colleagues and young people, providing guidance and inspiration to help them realize their own potential; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Frank M. Clark on his retirement and thank him for the difference he has made to the business, civic, and policy fabric of the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Frank M. Clark as a symbol of our respect and esteem.