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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, After 29 years of dedicated service, William D. 
3"Bill" Olson will retire on December 31, 2013 as President of 
4the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, the business 
5trade association that represents the interests of beer 
6distributors licensed by the State of Illinois to bring beer 
7into Illinois and distribute to licensed retailers in 
8accordance with the State's alcohol regulatory system; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, William Olson began his career with the Associated 
10Beer Distributors of Illinois on January 1, 1985; as Chief 
11Executive Officer, he has been responsible for all association 
12programs and activities, including its government relations 
13activities and the Political Action Committee; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, William Olson is a past president of the Wholesale 
15Beer Association Executives, the national organization of 
16chief staff officers of state beer wholesaler associations, he 
17currently serves as the organization's representative on the 
18Industry Affairs Committee for the National Beer Wholesalers 
19Association; he is also a member of the Illinois Society of 
20Association Executives and the American Society of Association 
21Executives; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, William Olson is a graduate of Illinois College in 
 
 
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1Jacksonville and was elected President of his junior and senior 
2classes; he has also taken graduate courses in business and 
3management at the University of Illinois in Springfield; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, After graduating in 1968, William Olson joined the 
5Household Finance Corporation in Chicago; in 1972, he moved to 
6Springfield to begin his career as a government relations 
7representative for Household and its subsidiary companies; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, In 1977, William Olson joined the Association for 
9Modern Banking as the Director of Government Relations; as 
10Director, he guided industry lobbying efforts, including the 
11passage of legislation to authorize multi-office banking and to 
12end Illinois' unit banking system; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, William Olson has been the recipient of several 
14awards, including the "Retailers Award of Merit" from the 
15Illinois Liquor Stores Association in 1993, the Associated Beer 
16Distributors of Illinois' "Richard A. Mautino Award" for 
17industry service in 1995, recognition from the Illinois 
18Licensed Beverage Association in 1996, the "Industry Service 
19Award" in 1997, the General Excellence Award from the Illinois 
20State Crime Commission in 2003, and the National Beer 
21Wholesalers "Life Service Award" in 2013; and
 
22    WHEREAS, In 1989, William Olson was recognized for his 
 
 
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1outstanding efforts as a lobbyist by being elected by his peers 
2to serve as "Speaker" of the Illinois Third House, an 
3organization of registered lobbyists in Illinois; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, William Olson was born and raised in Chicago; he 
5is married to Jean Aden Olson and is the father of Ashley 
6Olson, who lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia; therefore, be 
7it
  
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
9NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
10we commend William D. Olson for his excellent service to the 
11Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois and the people of 
12Illinois and wish him a long and happy retirement; and be it 
13further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to William Olson as an expression of our esteem and 
16respect.