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HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate Greg Petry on the occasion
4of his retirement as executive director of the Waukegan Park
5District; and
6 WHEREAS, Greg Petry started his life in parks and
7recreation at the age of 15 in his hometown with the East
8Brunswick Township, New Jersey: Division of Parks and
9Recreation; and
10 WHEREAS, Greg Petry joined the Waukegan Park District in
111987 as the superintendent of parks; prior to that, he worked
12at Illinois park districts in Highland Park, Mundelein, and
13Park Ridge; and
14 WHEREAS, Greg Petry has received State and national
15recognition for leading the Waukegan Park District in the
16development of outstanding programs and facilities, most
17notable the Sports Turf Managers Association Harry C. Gill
18Award and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA)
19Robert M. Artz Award; and
20 WHEREAS, The Waukegan Park District has received numerous
21program and facility development awards and honors from

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1professional and trade associations while under Greg Petry's
2leadership; in 2013, it won the prestigious National Recreation
3and Park Association (NRPA) Gold Medal and was a finalist for
4the same in 2012; other agency awards include the NRPA Dorothy
5Mullen Arts and Humanities Award and the NRPA Barb King
6Environmental Award; and
7 WHEREAS, Greg Petry has written several articles on park
8operations and management, sports turf, and park and recreation
9legislative affairs; he has also been a guest speaker at
10several universities, as well as at State and national
11conferences; and
12 WHEREAS, Greg Petry has served many professional
13associations; he was a regent at the NRPA Maintenance
14Management School, president of the Midwest Institute of Park
15Executives, director of the IPRA Parks Section, and president
16of the National Sports Turf Managers Association; he is
17currently a member of the Joint Legislative Committee for the
18Illinois Association of Park Districts and a member of the NRPA
19Member Relations Task Force; and
20 WHEREAS, Greg Petry was among the first class to be granted
21a Certified Park and Recreation Executive designation in 2011;
22and

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1 WHEREAS, Greg Petry's education includes a Bachelor of
2Science in Teacher Preparation and Physical Education from
3Manhattan College in 1978 and a Master of Science in Parks and
4Recreation Administration from Penn State University in 1980;
5and
6 WHEREAS, Greg Petry's interests include running, fishing,
7gardening, and downhill skiing; he is married to Candia, a
8retired Walgreens Pharmacy Manager, and has twin sons, Steve
9and Dan; therefore, be it
10 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
11HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
12congratulate Greg Petry on his retirement as executive director
13of the Waukegan Park District, and we wish him the best in all
14his future endeavors; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to Greg Petry as an expression of our esteem and
17respect.