Bill Text: IL HR0670 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Gary and Debby Stricker on their retirement from owning and operating The Okawville Times. Commends them for their lifetime of service to their community and State.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-02 - Resolution Adopted by Voice Vote [HR0670 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0670-Introduced.html

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HR0670 LRB103 39787 LAW 70358 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate Gary and Debby Stricker
on the occasion of their retirement from owning and operating
The Okawville Times, after providing their community with a
steady source of knowledge and information for half a century;
and
WHEREAS, The Okawville Times was founded by J.T. Gibbs in
1893; the newspaper was then owned by Gary Stricker's uncle
and aunt, Grover and Leona Brinkman, before his parents,
Warren and Virginia Stricker, assumed ownership; and
WHEREAS, Becoming the fourth owners in the 130-year
history of The Okawville Times, Gary and Debby Stricker took
control of the family business from Gary's parents after Gary
completed his military service with the U.S. Air Force, where
he served as a photographer from 1969 to 1973; and
WHEREAS, Soon after, Gary and Debby Stricker married on
May 4, 1973, and Debby proceeded to serve as editor of The
Okawville Times while also selling real estate; and
WHEREAS, Gary and Debby Stricker have long been active in
their community in a number of ways, such as assisting the

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Okawville Village Library through advertising library events,
providing ticket printing, and contributing in many other ways
to aid the library in raising money to buy books for all ages
and to host programs for students in the local school
district; and
WHEREAS, Gary and Debby Stricker have been leaders in
their field and community, with Gary serving on the board of
directors of the Illinois Press Association from 2000 to 2011,
advocating for journalists across the State, and Debby serving
on the Okawville Village Library Board; and
WHEREAS, During their 50 years of leadership and
management, Gary and Debby Stricker have received numerous
awards from the Illinois Press Association while operating The
Okawville Times; and
WHEREAS, In retirement, Gary and Debby Stricker have
expressed plans to spend more time with their children, Kit
and Shana Stricker, and their grandchildren, Gwen, Grant,
Natasha, Zane, and Emma; and
WHEREAS, The Okawville Times has merged with the Nashville
News to become the Washington County News, ensuring the
viability of local journalism for years to come; therefore, be
it

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RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Gary and Debby Stricker on their retirement
from owning and operating The Okawville Times, and we commend
them for their lifetime of service to their community and
State; and be it further