HR0686 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize Margaret "Margie" McClain and her remarkable life as an advertising representative, a Marine and journalist during World War II, a college student, a mother, and a painter; and

WHEREAS, Margie McClain was drawn to journalism at an early age; she once interviewed Amelia Earhart after a school assembly, eight months before the famous pilot vanished; on another occasion, popular violinist Dave Rubinoff offered to let her play his $100,000 Stradivarius violin during an after-assembly interview; and

WHEREAS, After high school, a love for advertising found her working first as a copy writer and then as the advertising manager at Halbach Schroeder; when a Marine Corps recruiter came in to run some ads to encourage young women to join the Marine Corps Women's Reserve, the ad she wrote was so good that she enlisted; and

WHEREAS, Stationed in Quantico, Virginia, she became a combat correspondent and interviewed dignitaries and reported the stories of Marines returning home from battle; many of her stories were picked up by the Associated Press, United Press, and the Washington Post; she interviewed the secretary of the interior and Winston Churchill's nephew; and

WHEREAS, After serving in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve for two years, she took advantage of the GI Bill and enrolled at Quincy College; she had dreams of becoming an advertising representative on Fifth Avenue in New York City; however, in college, she met Elmo McClain; they married on December 26, 1946 and had eight children; and

WHEREAS, Margie McClain taught at St. Peter Grade School for 14 years, and also took time to focus on her family; she has 24 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Seven years ago, Margie McClain transformed the back room of her home into a studio and took up oil painting; her most prized work is a highly-detailed portrait of her mother; and

WHEREAS, Margie McClain has a deep love for her country; she participated in an Honor Flight with her oldest son, Mike, in Washington D.C., and she was named marshal of Quincy's 2017 Veterans Parade; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Margie McClain, whose love of family, spirit of adventure, and dedication to lifelong learning is an inspiration to the people of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Margie McClain as an expression of our esteem and respect.