Bill Text: IL HR0444 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Gary Birschbach on 50 years in business.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-31 - Resolution Adopted [HR0444 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HR0444-Introduced.html

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HR0444 LRB101 12717 ALS 61451 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate Gary Birschbach on his 50
years in business; and
WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach is an owner operator of three
McDonald's restaurants in Decatur; he started working for
McDonald's as a junior in high school in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
in November of 1969; after working in several levels of
management for an owner/operator in Wisconsin, he purchased his
first restaurant in Piedmont, Missouri in 1995; he had an
opportunity to buy two restaurants in Decatur in 2000; his
franchise grew to include seven restaurants in 2007; he sold
four of the restaurants in 2009; and
WHEREAS, In his first store, Gary Birschbach tested and
implemented an ice cream product for then McDonald's CEO Jack
Greenberg; this item was released in the U.S. as the McFlurry
three years later; he has held several social functions at the
Decatur McDonald's, so the public can interact with social
leaders, including "Coffee with a Cop" and "Coffee with the
Council"; and
WHEREAS, Since 2005, Gary Birschbach's stores have awarded
over $175,000 in tuition assistance and assisted nine employees

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in enrolling in online high school programs through the
McDonald's Archways program; and
WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach serves on several boards,
including the Central Illinois Ronald McDonald House Charities
(RMHC) Executive Board, where he was instrumental in the
remodel of the Springfield RMHC House and the Peoria RMHC House
that opens in January 2020; he is a member of the St. Mary's
Hospital Board of Directors, the Decatur Chamber of Commerce,
where he is currently serving as president, and the WDCR
Catholic Radio Executive Board; he is a Knights of Columbus 4th
Degree Member; he previously served on the Pastoral Council of
the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Decatur, on the
Richland Community College Foundation Board, and as a board
member and past president of the Easter Seals, where he was
honored with the Seal of Excellence Award in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach sponsors many events, including
the District 61 New Teacher Breakfast, the Annual Gold Wings
Motorcycle Charity Ride, the Annual Decatur Area High School
Basketball Turkey Tournament, and the Summer Reading Programs
at seven local libraries in Decatur, Forsyth, Argenta,
Warrensburg, Oreana, Mt. Zion, and Cerro Gordo; he partners
with Decatur dentist Dr. Brown to provide dental care to
low-income children; and

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WHEREAS, Gary Birschbach has been married to Laura, whom he
met at McDonald's, for over 40 years; they have five children
and 13 grandchildren; his passions include the McDonald's
business, the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and the Green
Bay Packers; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Gary Birschbach on his 50 years in business and
commend his volunteer efforts; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Gary Birschbach as an expression of our esteem and
respect.