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 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois  were  saddened    to  learn  of the death of former
 4    Representative John J. Houlihan of Palos Heights, who    died
 5    on July 24, 2003 at the age of 80; and

 6        WHEREAS,  Through  his  leadership  and  dedication,  Mr.
 7    Houlihan personified the  nobility of public service; and

 8        WHEREAS,  John J. Houlihan served his county with dignity
 9    and distinction  during World  War  II;   as  a  recent  high
10    school  graduate,  Mr. Houlihan enlisted in the United States
11    Marine Corps in 1942, after  the  Japanese  attack  on  Pearl
12    Harbor;  Mr. Houlihan went into combat in the Pacific Theater
13    and fought in such engagements as the Battle  of  Midway  and
14    the Invasion of Bouganville; during his military service, Mr.
15    Houlihan  was  wounded  in  action  by  artillery fire, which
16    resulted in the amputation  of  his    leg;  because  of  his
17    heroism  and  sacrifice,  Mr. Houlihan was awarded the Purple
18    Heart, Marine Corps Medal, and the Asian Pacific Medal with 3
19    Bronze Stars; and

20        WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his military service, Mr.
21    Houlihan  earned  his  bachelor's  degree  in  business   and
22    accounting  from  DePaul  University and began working in the
23    Cook County Clerk's Office; and

24        WHEREAS,  In  1965,  Mr.  Houlihan  was  elected  to  the
25    Illinois House of Representatives, where he  represented  the
26    41st District for 8 years; and

27        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Houlihan  was  an  ardent advocate for his
28    fellow veterans; he was appointed by Governor Dan  Walker  to
29    serve  as  the  first  Director of Veterans' Affairs, for the
30    Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, he was instrumental
31    in developing programs for the U.S.  Department  of  Veterans
 
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 1    Affairs,  and,  up  until  his  final  illness,  he  was  the
 2    supervisor of the Cook County Veterans Assistance Commission;
 3    and

 4        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Houlihan's death is a grievous loss to all
 5    who knew and loved him, particularly his  wife,  Vernal,  his
 6    daughters,  Maureen and Patricia, his sons, Michael, William,
 7    Terence, Denis, and Brendan, and his nine grandchildren; and

 8        WHEREAS, Honor and duty were his hallmarks, and his every
 9    endeavor was characterized  by  a  commitment  to  serve  his
10    country, his State, and his fellow man; therefore, be it

11        RESOLVED  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
12    ASSEMBLY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  that  we express our
13    profound sorrow at the death of John  J.  Houlihan,  that  we
14    join  with  his  fellow citizens in mourning the loss of this
15    exemplary public citizen, and that to his bereaved family, we
16    extend out heartfelt sympathy; and be it further

17        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
18    presented  to  the  family of John J. Houlihan along with our
19    sincerest condolences.