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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Gordon A. Taylor Jr., the Western Illinois 
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University Associate Vice President for Alumni Programs will 
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retire, after 35 years of service, on January 31, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He  received a bachelor's degree in management from 
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Western Illinois University  in 1968; at the University of 
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Florida in 1970, he earned his Master's Degree in Business 
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Administration;  in 1980, the University of Florida conferred 
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upon Gordon A. Taylor, Jr. the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 
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in Management; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1970, Taylor returned to Western as an 
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assistant professor in the Management Department where he 
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taught until 1978, when he was appointed the Director of Alumni 
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Programs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Under Dr. Taylor's leadership, the Western 
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Illinois University Alumni Association substantially expanded 
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its program beyond traditional social events to a comprehensive 
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set of alumni services including: career counseling; life and 
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medical insurance with low group rates; the WIU affinity credit 
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card; the Alumni Travel Abroad program; University library 
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access; the student loan consolidation program; an online  
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alumni directory; an alumni newspaper; alumni awards; and a 
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full array of homecoming activities, class reunions, and social 
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events in Macomb and throughout the United States; and

 

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    WHEREAS, The Alumni Association includes all  95,000 WIU 
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graduates; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Council for Achievement and Support of 
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Education recognized Gordon and the WIU Alumni Association with 
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several awards including the 1994 Grand Gold Award for Overall 
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Alumni Program; and

 

 


 






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    WHEREAS, Dr. Taylor's contributions have reached beyond 
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the campus; he is the co-author of the book, "How to Set up an 
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Alumni Relations Program"; he served on the Governor's Small 
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Business Advisory Council from 1986-1992 and is currently on 
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the Board of Savings Institutions in the Illinois Department of 
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Financial and Professional Regulation; and
 
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    WHEREAS, University President Al Goldfarb noted that, 
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"Gordy has been the vital link for alumni and friends of 
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Western throughout the country.  His unique style bridges the 
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gap between all generations of Western alumni"; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The University bestowed upon Dr. Taylor the 
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Western Illinois University Administrative Service Award for 
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his contributions to the University and his profession; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Demonstrating that his Western ties will not be 
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severed easily, Gordy will return part-time as the  Director of 
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Special Projects for the University's next capital campaign; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we thank Dr. Gordon A. Taylor for his years of public service 
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at Western Illinois University and  the Western Alumni 
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Association and wish him all the best in his  future endeavors; 
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and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Dr. Gordon A. Taylor, Jr. as an expression of our 
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esteem.