SR0599

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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate was saddened to learn of the 
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death of Bernard J. Lachner, who passed away on November 4, 
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2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Lachner made many contributions in the field 
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of health care both in the State of Illinois and nationwide; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, An active student and football player, Mr. Lachner 
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graduated from Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1945 
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and enrolled at the University of Notre Dame; after a year, he 
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was drafted by the Army and served in Tokyo just after World 
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War II ended; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After his discharge, Mr. Lachner attended 
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Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where he received his 
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bachelor of science degree, followed by a masters degree in 
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business administration from the University of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1954 Mr. Lachner moved to the Ohio State 
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University Hospitals where he rose to the position of assistant 
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dean of the College of Medicine and further served the 
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University as a whole as the vice president for Administrative 
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Operations; he was instrumental in the creation of the division 
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of hospital and health Services administration, serving as its 
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first director; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In the summer of 1972, Mr. Lachner accepted the 
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position of president and chief executive officer of the 
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Evanston Hospital Corp., which had never made an operational 
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profit in its 100 years; he turned it from a money-losing 
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operation into a nationally known center of excellence; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Lachner also served as the chairman of the 
 


 






SR0599
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American Hospital Association and was inducted into the Modern 
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Healthcare Health Care Hall of Fame in 1998; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Lachner is survived by his wife Bonnie; three 
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sons, Bernard (Michelle), Thomas (Beth) and James (Dorsey); and 
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five grandchildren; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of

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Bernard J. Lachner and we extend our sincere condolences to his

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family and friends; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Bernard J. Lachner as an expression 
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of our respect for the life of a man who was dedicated  to 
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making a difference in the world.