HR1022 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1022 LRB102 29854 MST 42001 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are saddened to learn of the death of former Harwood Heights Mayor Ray Willas; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Willas was born to John and Agnes Willas on March 17, 1932; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Willas was a student at St. Fidelis Elementary School, Tuley High School, and Wright Junior College; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Willas served his country as an engineer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Korean War from 1952 through 1954; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Willas worked in the private sector as the finance director of C.F.S. Continental Coffee and L. Karp & Sons; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, Mayor Willas moved to the Village of Harwood Heights and received a parking ticket on his car in front of his new home for not displaying a vehicle sticker, which was dismissed after a heated discussion with the police chief; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Willas previously served on the Harwood Heights Zoning Board of Appeals for two years; in 1968, he was appointed to a vacant Harwood Heights trustee's chair and was elected to a full term as trustee in 1971; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, Mayor Willas was elected as mayor of Harwood Heights and served in that position until his retirement in 2001; and

WHEREAS, In addition to serving as mayor of Harwood Heights, Mayor Willas also served as president of the Leyden-Norwood Park Municipal League, president of the West Central Municipal League, and as a member of the Illinois Municipal League Board; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Mayor Willas expressed to the Chicago Tribune that being the mayor of a small village meant that "The buck stops here. In a small town, people know who to call when they have problems...And yes, it delays dinner sometimes, but I've found what people usually need is just someone who's willing to listen and help, if possible"; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Willas was married to his wife, Barbara, for 64 years and was the father of Mary Kay Pawlak, the father-in-law of Gary Pawlak, and the grandfather of Andrew, Brian (Diego), and Kaitlyn Pawlak; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we extend our hearts and condolences to the family of former Harwood Heights Mayor Ray Willas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the decades of service, commitment to community, and hard work that Mayor Willas dedicated to his home of Harwood Heights, the "island in the city", which he succeeded in making a great place to live; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Barbara Willas, Mary Kay Pawlak, Andrew Pawlak, Brian Pawlak, and Kaitlyn Pawlak as an expression of our deepest sympathy.