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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate and thank State
4Representative Joseph M. Lyons for his many years of service on
5behalf of the people of the State of Illinois and City of
6Chicago; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons began his service to the
8people of his district in 1996; he served as a determined and
9vigorous legislator for the 19th District as a member of the
10Aging, Financial Institutions, Executive, Telecommunications,
11Veterans' Affairs, and Tollway Oversight committees; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons has been a leading advocate
13for a number of important issues, including senior health,
14education, credit unions, neighborhood safety, and providing
15vital services to those who need them most; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Over the years, Representative Lyons has
17championed the creation of pharmaceutical assistance programs,
18including the Illinois Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical
19Assistance Program and the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug
20Discount Program, to help make prescription medications more
21affordable to Illinois seniors and disabled persons; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons has continuously fought for
2legislation to improve education; he has worked to increase
3school funding throughout the State by supporting the "Fund
4Education First Act"; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons has coached Chicago Park
6District youth basketball and baseball programs at Sauganash,
7Peterson, Portage, and Dunham Parks; an activist in his home
8parish of Our Lady of Victory, Representative Lyons is past
9president of the Holy Name Society, a member of the Parish
10Stewardship Committee, and an active school parent; he is a
11member of the Knights of Columbus, Jefferson Park Lions, a
12Misericordia volunteer, and serves on the Executive Board and
13Benefit Committee of St. Peter's Church in the Loop; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons has received numerous
15legislator of the year awards from organizations including the
16American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the Illinois
17Long Term Care Association, and the Combined Charities
18Association of Illinois; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons was among the top precinct
20captains in the 45th Ward for 30 years, working hand-in-hand
21with former 45th ward alderman, ward committeeman, and close
22personal friend, Pat Levar; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Each year Representative Lyons proudly holds a
2popular senior driving seminar in his district to help educate
3seniors on changes in the rules of the road before they
4prepared for their driving exams; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons is a revered and respected
6connoisseur of corned beef among his colleagues; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons has provided strong
8leadership, sage wisdom, and a steadfast commitment to his
9duties as chairman of the White Sox caucus; he has dutifully
10led this caucus with a calm resolve through losing streaks,
11playoff runs, and a 2005 World Series title; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons has gracefully helped lead
13the day-to-day operations of the House while in the Speaker's
14chair; tough but fair, Representative Lyons has helped ensure
15this proud institution remained focused on the work of the
16people; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Strongly committed to his family and Catholic
18faith, Representative Lyons is a third-generation resident of
19the northwest side, residing in Jefferson Park with his wife,
20Kieran, and their two children, Ellie and Joey; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Representative Lyons will be missed by his

 

 

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1colleagues, who hold him in the highest regard for his honesty,
2fairness, commitment, selflessness, and humor; therefore, be
3it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6we congratulate and thank Illinois State Representative Joseph
7M. Lyons for his friendship and many years of service to the
8state; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to Representative Joseph M. Lyons as a token of our
11respect and esteem and with our best wishes for his future
12success.