HR0569LRB098 13810 GRL 48339 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, At a particularly critical and sensitive time, 
3James Carlson played an important role in the government 
4oversight and regulation of the Illinois cemetery industry, 
5having admirably served as Assistant Deputy Director of 
6Cemetery Oversight for the State of Illinois and having been 
7formally recognized as an "upstanding leader" by Comptroller 
8Judy Barr Topinka for his "dedication and service to the people 
9of Illinois and the cemetery industry"; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, James Carlson was born in Evergreen Park on June 
111, 1946; he graduated from Bradley University in Peoria with a 
12degree in economics in 1968; he raised two children in 
13Illinois, Mathew (born in 1974) and Tracey (born in 1975), and 
14married his soul mate, Kathy Carlson, in 1989; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, James Carlson served as a professor of economics 
16at Moraine Valley College; he also served in many capacities 
17within the Illinois cemetery industry, including Executive 
18Vice President of the Chicago Cemetery Corporation, Regional 
19Vice President of the Loewen Group, President of the Cemeteries 
20Association of Greater Chicago, and President of the Illinois 
21Cemetery and Funeral Home Association; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, Prior to becoming a cemetery regulator, James 
 
 
HR0569- 2 -LRB098 13810 GRL 48339 r

1Carlson served as a cemetery consultant, advising Illinois 
2cemeteries on compliance with Illinois laws and operational 
3integrity; he also served as an appointed receiver of Illinois 
4cemeteries under the administrations of Comptrollers Judy Baar 
5Topinka and Daniel Hynes; and

  
 
6    WHEREAS, As a recognized cemetery industry leader of great 
7knowledge and integrity, James Carlson was asked to serve the 
8State of Illinois by helping develop and administer the new 
9Cemetery Oversight Act, which he did with honor and 
10accomplishment prior to his retirement in 2013 due to health 
11reasons; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
14we express our sincere appreciation to James Carlson for his 
15dedicated and effective public service; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to James Carlson, his wife, Kathy, and his children, 
18Mathew and Tracey.