HR0399 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0399 LRB097 12092 GRL 55971 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Oprah Winfrey on the occasion of her show's final season; and

WHEREAS, Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 in Kosciusko, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey began her broadcasting career at WVOL radio in Nashville while still in high school; at the age of 19, she became the youngest person and the first African-American woman to anchor the news at Nashville's WTVF-TV; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, Oprah Winfrey moved to Baltimore, Maryland to join WJZ-TV news as a co-anchor of the Six O'Clock News, and in 1978, discovered her talent for hosting talk shows when she became co-host of WJZ-TV's talk show "People Are Talking", while continuing to serve as anchor and news reporter; in January 1984, she moved to Chicago to host WLS-TV's morning talk show "AM Chicago", which became the number one local talk show just one month after she began; in less than a year, the show expanded to one hour and, in September 1985, was renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show"; in 1986, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" was syndicated and aired in 107 countries with 23 million viewers; and

WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey has impacted the media of television, publishing, film, philanthropy, education, and health and fitness; she has also been a boon to the tourism and hospitality industries in the City of Chicago through the many people throughout the world who have come to see her show and the many celebrities she has brought to the City; and

WHEREAS, In the television medium, the film medium, and the print medium, Oprah Winfrey serves as chairperson of HARPO, Inc., HARPO Productions, Inc.; HARPO Studios Inc., HARPO Films, Inc., HARPO Print, LLC, and HARPO Video, Inc.; she recently created her own network, OWN; and

WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey has received numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Individual Achievement Award (1996); the International Radio and Television Society's "Broadcaster of the Year" Award (1996); Newsweek's "Most Important Person" in books and media, TV Guide's "Television Performer of the Year" (1997); Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of the 20th Century", the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Lifetime Achievement Award (1998); the National Book Foundation's 50th Anniversary Gold Medal (1999); the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, Broadcasting & Cable's Hall of Fame (2002); Association of American Publishers AAP Honors award (2003); National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award; and Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" (2004); and

WHEREAS, After receiving 39 Daytime Emmy Awards, seven for Outstanding Host, nine for Outstanding Talk Show, 21 in the Creative Arts categories, and one for her work as supervising producer of the ABC After School Special "Shades of Single Protein", Oprah Winfrey's removed herself from future Emmy consideration in 1999, and the show followed suit in 2000; and

WHEREAS, The City of Chicago named the street where Harpo Studios resides "Oprah Winfrey Way" in honor of Oprah's contribution to the City and its residents; and

WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey's never-ending philanthropy has been exemplified by such activities as ChristmasKindness South Africa 2002; Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls-South Africa; and the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program; among her many ventures that have improved the lives of countless individuals are Oprah's Angel Network; Oprah's Book Club; the Live Your Best Life Tour; her service as national spokesperson for "A Better Chance"; and her service as an advocate for the National Child Protection Act, which was signed on December 20, 1993 by President Clinton and declared the "Oprah Bill"; and

WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey's final show was as big as her career; the episode was filmed at the United Center in Chicago and featured dozens of celebrity guests, including Mayor Richard M. Daley; and

WHEREAS, Oprah Winfrey's ability to reach, encourage, and effect change and to teach her viewers through her own experiences have enabled her to become a leader in the world of entertainment and journalism and an inspiration to countless millions throughout the world; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Oprah Winfrey on the occasion of her show's final season, thank her for making the State of Illinois her home, and wish her good luck and continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Oprah Winfrey as an expression of our utmost respect and esteem.