HR1117 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1117 LRB093 22741 KEF 52455 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois are pleased to honor citizens who have made significant civic and professional contributions to this State; and

WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Dr. Gary Davis is retiring from his position as Executive Director for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association; and

WHEREAS, Gary Davis was born June 15, 1944, and was raised in Nemaha, Iowa; he has resided in the city of Lincoln since 1987; and

WHEREAS, After graduating magna cum laude from Morningside College in 1965 with a bachelor of arts degree, he received a doctorate in philosophy and religion from the University of Iowa; in 1980, he performed a course of post-doctoral study at the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Michigan and has since been working to improve the system of higher education; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, he has successfully completed studies to become a Certified Association Executive as certified by the American Society of Association Executives and later completed the Policy Governance Academy; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Davis has been Chairman of the Department and a Professor of Humanities at Northwest Missouri State University, Assistant Provost and Director of the Summer Program at Illinois State University, and Assistant to the President at Saganaw Valley Community College in Michigan; and

WHEREAS, Since 1986, Dr. Davis has been the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, a highly regarded statewide association that represents the board members who govern the State's public community colleges; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Davis continues to be influential in guiding initiatives for the improvement of learning opportunities for the many thousands of students who attend Illinois Community Colleges; he has devoted countless hours and significant energy to advocating the cause of increasing access to state and federal financial aid for the students who are in the most need; and

WHEREAS, He has dedicated his knowledge and energy to the advancement and improvement of Adult Education programs for the benefit of thousands of students; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Davis has become locally and nationally recognized as a premiere retreat consultant and has consulted for over 100 community and technical colleges and several State system offices and university boards; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his work as Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, he is a member of numerous organizations, including the Association of Community College Trustees, the American Academy of Religion, the Great Rivers Presbytery, the Council of State Association Chief Executives, the American Association of University Professors, the American Association of Community Colleges, the Illinois Society of Association Executives, the American Society of Association Executives, the Association for the Study of Higher Education, the League of Women Voters, Progress Illinois, Main Street, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Taxpayers Federation, the Illinois Learning Partnership, and the Association of Governing Boards; and

WHEREAS, His dedication to improving higher education in Illinois for the benefit of thousands of students is a source of inspiration to the entire community and State; and

WHEREAS, Gary is married to Karen Davis and together they have four children and five grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we offer our congratulations to Gary Davis on the occasion of his retirement and we wish him well in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Gary Davis and his family as a token of our respect.