HR0307 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0307 LRB099 11377 MST 32553 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to honor William "Bill" Bolger on the occasion of his 90th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger was born on April 16, 1925 at the Bolger Farm in McHenry to Thomas Arthur and Grace Doherty Bolger, one of 10 siblings; and

WHEREAS, The Bolger family has lived in the McHenry area since the 1800s; and

WHEREAS, With his beloved wife, Carol, Bill Bolger is the proud father of 4, grandfather of 6, and great-grandfather of 4; and

WHEREAS, The Bolger family has a long and decorated history of public service; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger served with distinction in the Pacific Theater during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered during combat; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger's father, Thomas Arthur Bolger, was a State Representative, serving McHenry County residents from 1931 until 1942; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger's brother, Thomas Bolger, Jr., was also a dedicated public servant, working on behalf of the taxpayers of the City of McHenry as Treasurer for 25 years; and

WHEREAS, Following a long-shot, write-in candidacy, Bill Bolger served as a City of McHenry Alderman for more than 4 decades and was instrumental in the establishment of the city's public library, the development of McHenry's largest park, and the building of the Stratton-Bolger Dam on the Fox River; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1972; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger worked throughout McHenry County to help elect John F. Kennedy president in 1960; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger has been a lifelong lover of the game of baseball, playing on the McHenry Shamrocks as a youth and mentoring young ball players throughout his adult years; and

WHEREAS, Bill Bolger's extensive knowledge of local history has been an invaluable source for local newspapers, helping to keep the history of McHenry County alive; and

WHEREAS, With his "Practice Simple Acts of Kindness" initiative, Bill Bolger created a local movement that has helped bind the McHenry area together and foster an enduring spirit of civic engagement that continues to this day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor William "Bill" Bolger on his 90th birthday and wish him many more wonderful years; and be it further

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