093_HR0369

 
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 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Bert Gray  has
 3    worked  extensively  in his community both as a volunteer and
 4    for the Oswegoland Park District for 27 years; Mr. Gray began
 5    with  the  Park  District  in  1976  and  became  the   chief
 6    administrator in 1980; and

 7        WHEREAS, Under Mr. Gray's leadership, the Park District's
 8    facilities,  programs,  and  staff have steadily grown as the
 9    population the agency serves has  almost  tripled;  when  Mr.
10    Gray  was  hired  as the assistant superintendent in 1976, he
11    was only the third full-time staffer  the  agency  supported;
12    today,  Mr.  Gray  heads a staff with 29 full-time employees;
13    the Park District now owns and maintains 34  area  parks,  an
14    aquatic  center,  miles  of  bike  trails,  and has an annual
15    operating budget of $9 million; and

16        WHEREAS, Mr. Gray has  been  described  as  the  kind  of
17    community  leader  who  sees  potential and possibility where
18    others see only dead  ends;  as  Executive  Director  of  the
19    Oswegoland  Park  District,  he  worked  with  various  other
20    agencies to transform an historic bridge across the Fox River
21    that  was scheduled for demolition into a bike and pedestrian
22    bridge; he also led efforts to convert the site of  a  former
23    gravel  mine  and  waste  dump  into  150  acres  of wetland,
24    prairie, and hardwood forest on the banks of the  Fox  River;
25    and

26        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Gray  secured a strong land-cash ordinance
27    which has enabled the Oswegoland Park  District  to  preserve
28    open  spaces  and  to  develop  greenways  and natural spaces
29    within residential areas; he  created  the  Waubonsie  Trail,
30    which  takes bikers and pedestrians from one end of Oswego to
31    the other and connects with the Fox River Trail; he initiated
32    cooperation between the Oswegoland Park District  and  Oswego
 
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 1    School  District  308  to  share equipment, split development
 2    costs, and make space available for programs;  most  recently
 3    the  school  and  park  districts  shared funding for two new
 4    double-size gymnasiums; and

 5        WHEREAS, Through the creative use of volunteers, Mr. Gray
 6    seeks out community input regarding how the Park District can
 7    serve them; and

 8        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Gray  earned  a   bachelor's   degree   in
 9    recreation  and  parks  administration  at  the University of
10    Illinois in 1976 and a master's degree in business management
11    from Aurora University in 1984; he has been a member  of  the
12    Illinois  Association of Park Districts for several years and
13    has served on the Joint Legislative Committee, Administrative
14    and Finance Section,  Professional  Development  School,  and
15    Awards and Recognition; and

16        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Gray  has served as the chairperson of the
17    DuKane Valley Council and as Advisor of  the  Kendall  County
18    Forest Preserve District; he has been a member of the Kendall
19    County  Youth  Service Board, the Oswego Plan Commission, and
20    the Oswego Land Use Plan Task Force; he is a published author
21    and  presenter  of  workshops;  he  has   received   numerous
22    community  awards  and  letters of recognition from community
23    organizations including the Oswego Lions Club,  Boulder  Hill
24    Civic  Association, PTA, School District 308 Home and School,
25    and the Oswego Optimist Club; and

26        WHEREAS, Mr. Gray donates his  time  and  energy  to  the
27    Oswego  Optimist  Club, the Oswego Lions Club, and the Rotary
28    Club; he is on the building and design team of his church; an
29    Eagle  Scout  himself,  Mr.  Gray  has  been   an   Assistant
30    Scoutmaster  of  Boy Scout Troop 48 since 1996; therefore, be
31    it

32        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
 
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 1    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
 2    we  thank  Mr.  Bert  Gray  for  his  extensive  and  devoted
 3    community work in the Oswego area, and we commend him for his
 4    many contributions to the Oswegoland Park District; and be it
 5    further

 6        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 7    presented  to  Mr.  Bert Gray as an expression of our deepest
 8    respect and esteem.