HR0237 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0237 LRB096 12167 KXB 24527 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Harry Reynolds on his retirement from the Mattoon Journal Gazette; and

WHEREAS, Harry Reynolds was born and raised in Charleston; he attended Charleston High school and graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor of science degree in political science; he is married to Doris K.( Martin) and has two children, J.L and Michelle; he also has two sisters, Dorothy Cruse and Georgia Nations; two brothers, David Reynolds and George Reynolds; and one grandson, Lennon; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Reynolds was hired as a reporter by the Mattoon Journal Gazette on February 5, 1969; he was a reporter from 1969 to 1976; Mr. Reynolds received first place in investigative reporting, second place for on-the-spot reporting, and third place for his columns; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Reynolds has written over 4,200 columns, beginning in March of 1969; over the years he has received a number of awards for his columns, which range from local, State, and national politics, humor, family life, and a variety of other topics; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, he was named city editor of the Mattoon Journal Gazette; in 1989, he was named editor of the Journal Gazette, serving in that position until 2003, when he was named Opinions page editor of the Journal Gazette and its sister newspaper, the Charleston Times-Courier; State Representative Bob Flider once worked as a reporter for the Mattoon Journal Gazette with Mr. Reynolds and is a long-time friend; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Reynolds retired from the newspaper in September of 2008; he has been working as a volunteer in the Charleston office of State Representative Chapin Rose; Mr. Reynolds is co-Scoutmaster of Mattoon Troop 77 and writes a weekly column for the Tuscola Journal and the Tuscola Tri-County newspaper; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Harry Reynolds on his retirement and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Harry Reynolds as a symbol of our respect and esteem.