HR0637 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0637 LRB100 15070 ALS 29913 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Joseph Glik on receiving the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Madison County's 2017 Citizen of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, Joe Glik and his family have been an integral part of the business community of Southwestern Madison County for over 120 years and, with Glik's, their chain of clothing stores, the pillar of the county's retail business world; and

WHEREAS, Since 1897, the Glik family has grown a successful retail business; what began with selling merchandise from a horse drawn wagon has grown to include 60 stores in ten states with over 500 associates; Glik's is currently ranked as the 14th oldest retailer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Joe Glik took over the active management of Glik's Clothing Store in Madison after he served in the United States Navy and graduated from Washington University; shortly thereafter, he was asked to open a second location in Granite City; that was the beginning of Glik's multi-store operations; and

WHEREAS, Over the next 25 years, Joe Glik grew the business to 12 stores; he then recruited his children; after his children acclimated to the family business, he turned over active management to them; however, he has too much energy to completely retire; he still travels with his sons to visit the stores and talk with the managers, clerks, and customers; he always asks how the business can improve and offers his impressions of what each store is doing right and wrong; and

WHEREAS, Joe Glik has always maintained that he and his family are indebted to Madison and Granite City, and he has instilled that belief in his children; Glik's corporate office is still located in Granite City; every piece of promotional material that is sent to New York, Los Angeles, or anywhere else is proudly marked with the Nameoki Road address in Granite City; Southwestern Madison County is where the business got its start, and it is where the family intends to remain; and

WHEREAS, Joe Glik has made significant contributions to his community; he served as Chairman of the Tri-Cities United Way's 1965 Fund Drive and served as President of its Board of Directors; he has served on the St. Elizabeth Foundation and on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce; he established a Breast Cancer screening fund for underserved women; and he built community parks in both Edwardsville and Highland; and

WHEREAS, Joe Glik has received the Distinguished Business Alumni Award from the Washington University School of Business, the De La Roche Award from the Board of Directors at St. Elizabeth Hospital, and the Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement "Balance" Award; and

WHEREAS, Joe Glik built a family business into a major retail operation but has never forgotten where he came from; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Joseph Glik on receiving the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Madison County's 2017 Citizen of the Year Award, and we recognize his achievements and dedication to Southwestern Madison County; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Joe Glik as a symbol of our esteem and respect.