HR0599 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0599 LRB096 14442 GRL 29264 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives have learned with very mixed emotions of the plans of Illinois broadcasting legend Rich Bradley to retire as news director of WUIS-FM, its predecessors, and other outlets after nearly 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Rich Bradley earned the distinction of being the first live voice heard on WSSR-FM when he delivered the station's inaugural newscast on January 3, 1975; and

WHEREAS, Rich Bradley was a graduate of Ogden Community High School; he then attended the University of Illinois and acquired his broadcasting skills and a degree in radio-television from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale; and

WHEREAS, During his lengthy career, Rich Bradley watched broadcasting and news gathering technology "progress" from the clack of the teletype machine to the Internet and the digital age; and

WHEREAS, Rich Bradley brought listeners across Illinois news of government and politics through the creation of the Illinois Public Radio and initiated and hosted one of radio's longest running public affairs programs, "State Week in Review"; and

WHEREAS, Rich Bradley used his clear, concise style to broadcast interviews with governors, presidential appearances, Illinois Supreme Court hearings, a gubernatorial impeachment, and election nights too numerous to count; and

WHEREAS, While he has earned many broadcasting awards, a true mark of Rich Bradley's distinctive career occurred in 2005, when he was named the recipient of the Leo C. Lee Award by the national Public Radio News Directors; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we join other State leaders, family members, and friends in expressing sincere gratitude and congratulations to Rich Bradley for his contributions to broadcasting, for informing the citizens of Illinois, and for making Illinois a better place through his work; and be it further

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