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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION


  
 
2    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson was born in Chicago to Ben and 
3Bernice Odelson; he attended Bogan High School, Richard J. 
4Daley College, the University of Illinois, and the 
5Chicago-Kent College of Law; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson's interest in politics began in 1968 
7when he volunteered at the Chicago Democratic National 
8Convention, chauffeuring Gore Vidal and Paul Newman to events; 
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson was admitted to the Illinois bar 50 
11years ago on October 23, 1972; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson began his long prestigious law 
13career soon after law school by serving for many years as 
14village attorney for his first municipality, the Village of 
15Harwood Heights; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson argued his first election case when 
17he served as legal counsel to his dear friend, Thomas Powell, 
18defending his mayoral bid in Oak Lawn, after he was challenged 
19in 1973 at the young age of 26; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson has argued hundreds of cases for 
 
 
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1public officials, labor leaders, and candidates for local, 
2state, and federal offices; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson has participated in numerous 
4landmark cases at the Electoral Board, Circuit Court, 
5Appellate Court, Supreme Court of Illinois, and United States 
6Supreme Court; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson coined the word "chad" in the 
8infamous election case of Pullen v. Mulligan, which led to his 
9participation in the 2000 Florida recount of President Bush in 
10Florida; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson served as a hearing officer for the 
12Illinois Secretary of State's Office; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson was elected to the Moraine Valley 
14Community College Board for 17 years and served as chairman of 
15the board; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson served on the board at Brother Rice 
17High School, where he spent time  as chairman and donated the 
18broadcast studio; he received the 2016 Stephen Ruff 
19Distinguished Service Award for his dedication to the men of 
20Brother Rice; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson received the Professional 
2Achievement Award from the Chicago-Kent College of Law - 
3Illinois Institute of Technology in 2016; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson is a member of the executive board 
5and pro bono attorney for the Women's Care Center Foundation 
6in South Bend, Indiana; he serves as chairman of the board of 
7directors for the Women's Care Center in LaGrange; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson is regarded as an election expert in 
9the State of Illinois; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson is a loving father and grandfather; 
11he and his wife, Patti,  have seven children, John, Courtney, 
12Dustin, Lauren, Christina, Gina, and Mike; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson's favorite moments are those spent 
14with his children and their spouses, Jacquie, Joe, Kaitlyn, 
15and Ted, and grandchildren at Magician Lake; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Burt Odelson is the proud "Pops" to Ben, Jacob, 
17Vivian, Henry, Riley, Margo, Oliver, and Ella; therefore, be 
18it
  
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
20HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
 
 
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1we commend Burt Odelson on his service as  a leader, combining 
2his generosity and kindness in life with  a warrior spirit in 
3the courtroom; and be it further
  
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
5presented to Burt Odelson as a symbol of our respect and 
6esteem.