Bill Text: IL HR0237 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Honors former Illinois State Senator Brian Stewart on his 10 years of esteemed service as a member of the Illinois General Assembly and thanks him for his dedication to the State of Illinois and his community.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-04-27 - Resolution Adopted [HR0237 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0237-Introduced.html

---

HR0237 LRB103 31984 MST 60777 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to honor former Illinois State Senator
Brian Stewart on his 10 years of esteemed service as a member
of the Illinois General Assembly and thank him for his
dedication to the State of Illinois and his community; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart was born in Freeport to Lester and
Genevieve Stewart on October 25, 1957, a fifth generation
native of northwest Illinois; he was raised in Freeport along
with his siblings, Becky, Bonnie, Brenda, and Brad; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart joined the U.S. Army at the age of
18; he served as a military police officer and military police
investigator, and he still maintains the friendships of his
fellow soldiers to this day, attending reunions every other
year at a selected army base; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart completed his military service with
an honorable discharge and returned to Freeport, where he
served as a deputy for the Stephenson County Sheriff's Office,
rose to rank of sergeant, and served on a major case squad for
nine northwestern Illinois counties; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart used his time off from the sheriff's

HR0237 - 2 - LRB103 31984 MST 60777 r
department to start his first private investigating business
at his kitchen table in 1987; his hard work and perseverance in
small business allowed him to retire from the sheriff's office
early to pursue private business endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart owns several businesses, including
his primary business, Stewart and Associates, and services for
security, private investigations, background investigations,
civil processing, and information technology as well as
software businesses; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart built the company from a handful of
customers and employees to the largest employer in northwest
Illinois with almost 500 employees and service to all 50
states and over 80 countries worldwide and keeps most of his
business locations centered in his hometown of Freeport; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart served as an alderman and trustee
for Freeport Township; he served as chair and board member of
the Northwest Illinois Criminal Justice Commission, and he was
also a member of the Stephenson County ETSB(911) Board, the
Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Northwest Illinois
Development Alliance; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart has been involved in civic
organizations, including the United Way of Northwest Illinois

HR0237 - 3 - LRB103 31984 MST 60777 r
as chairman, the FHN Foundation Be Cancer Free Campaign, and
the Stephenson County Employees-UAW Local 2261 as charter
president; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart is a current member of the Freeport
Rotary, AMVETS Post 32, and the Stephenson County Farm Bureau;
and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart was appointed in September of 2013
to replace Rep. Jim Sacia in the Illinois House of
Representatives; he was sworn in to serve the constituents of
the 89th District at the Stephenson County Courthouse on
October 4, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart served in the Illinois House until
2018 when he announced he would seek election to the Illinois
Senate for the 45th Senate District, succeeding Senator Tim
Bivins; he was sworn in early on December 5, 2018 to represent
the 45th District, which encompasses all of Stephenson, Jo
Daviess, Ogle, parts of Winnebago, DeKalb, LaSalle, Lee,
Whiteside, and Carroll Counties; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart's most distinguishable legislative
achievements include those benefiting police officers,
firefighters, and emergency personnel; and

HR0237 - 4 - LRB103 31984 MST 60777 r
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart served as a lawmaker for over 10
years and served his constituents with determination and
class; he earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues
on both sides of the aisle; and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart's warmth, kindness, generosity,
humor, and quick smile have been appreciated by the lawmakers,
staff, employees, and citizens of Illinois; he was able to
bring people together for the betterment of our State and the
communities he served during his time in the General Assembly;
and
WHEREAS, Sen. Stewart often says "Your past does not
define your future" and believes that hard work, dedication,
and integrity can help someone achieve the American Dream in
Illinois, and he hopes that his story will inspire many
generations to come to pursue their own American Dream;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we honor former Illinois State Senator Brian Stewart on his 10
years of esteemed service as a member of the Illinois General
Assembly and thank him for his dedication to the State of
Illinois and his community; and be it further

HR0237 - 5 - LRB103 31984 MST 60777 r
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Sen. Stewart as a symbol of our respect and
esteem.