HR1172 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1172 LRB100 22609 MST 41583 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, John E. McGovern III, a native of Illinois born in Chicago, displayed from his earliest years a high level of intelligence and an orientation towards politics and history; he attended Lake Forest Country Day School, boarded at Deerfield Academy, and was admitted to Princeton University; and

WHEREAS, As a Princeton student in history, John McGovern passed through bicker into the Ivy Club, and also joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon; after graduating with honors in history and American Studies, he attended the Pritzker School of Law at Northwestern University, earning a J.D. degree; he passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Illinois bar; and

WHEREAS, Continuing his interest in politics, John McGovern took positions as press secretary with the Illinois Republican Party from 1994 to 1998 and as campaign manager for then-U.S. Representative Mark Kirk in 2000; and

WHEREAS, As part of his continued professional advancement, John McGovern affiliated himself with the Office of the U.S. Speaker of the House; he combined his service as a high-level congressional aide with the development of increasing dexterity in U.S. politics as the executive director of Keep Our Majority PAC; and

WHEREAS, Continuing his work on Capitol Hill, John McGovern was a senior advisor to U.S. Representative Bob Dold from 2010 through 2012; and

WHEREAS, As a senior political strategist, John McGovern successfully turned to private equity; he served for approximately seven years at Resolute Consulting LLC, and as a principal in the Thurston Group as a manager of strategic initiatives; and

WHEREAS, As a civic leader, John McGovern was asked by his friends and acquaintances to take on a variety of additional responsibilities; he served on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago and, at the time of his death, was serving as vice president of the Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago; he served on many other boards and advisory councils, including panels that provide leadership and financial backing for the Field Museum and the Rush Medical Center; and

WHEREAS, In news that shocked and saddened those close to him, John McGovern died on Friday, July 13, 2018, at the age of only 48; and

WHEREAS, John McGovern leaves behind his wife of seven years, Wentworth Caldwell McGovern; his sons, Caldwell Armour McGovern and Watson Greeley McGovern; and many other family members and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we feel a sense of sadness and loss at John McGovern's death, and we mourn his passing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his widow, Wentworth Caldwell McGovern, as a symbol of our sadness and sense of loss.