HR0178 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0178 LRB100 11558 MST 22182 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former U.S. House Minority Leader Bob Michel of Peoria, who passed away on February 17, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was born in Peoria on March 2, 1923; he attended Peoria High School and served in the United States Army during World War II; he was among the later waves to land in Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion; he also participated in the Battle of the Bulge; he was wounded in action and credited with capturing a German machine gun unit; he was awarded two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and four Battle Stars for his service; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Michel returned to Peoria and graduated from Bradley University in 1948; he married Corinne Woodruff later that same year; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Michel represented the Peoria area in the United States House of Representatives from 1957 through 1995, serving six years as minority whip before becoming the GOP leader in 1981; he served as minority leader for seven terms, longer than anyone in House history; he is credited with shepherding Reagan-era economic policies, from tax reform to Social Security reform; he served under seven presidents and six House speakers; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, Rep. Michel was named Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee by President Richard Nixon; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989 by President Ronald Reagan; in 1994, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton; and

WHEREAS, Numerous places bear Rep. Michel's name, including the downtown bridge between Peoria and East Peoria, the student center at Bradley University, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Northwest Peoria, and the suite of rooms used in the Capitol by the House leadership; his papers and archival material from his tenure in Congress are housed at the Dirksen Congressional Research Center in Pekin; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Michel was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Corinne; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Michel is survived by his children, Scott, Bruce, Laurie, and Robin; his five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former U.S. House Minority Leader Bob Michel, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rep. Michel as an expression of our deepest sympathy.