HR0654 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0654 LRB095 12903 GRL 38426 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Baum's, the oldest family-run retail business in Illinois, opened by Henry Baum as a dry-goods store in Morris in 1874, and later operated by his son, George Baum, then his grandson, H. James (Jim) Baum, has closed its doors after 133 years in business; and

WHEREAS, Jim and his wife, Carol Baum, kept the business successful not by keeping things the same, but by changing to keep current with the industry, evolving from an emporium to a moderately priced women's apparel shop; at one time, it was one of the largest women's specialty shops in northern Illinois outside Chicago; Jim was a partner in as many as four Hallmark shops around the State; at one time, the Baums had eight stores; and

WHEREAS, The Baums have been retail visionaries, galvanizing interest in a comprehensive study of success and failure factors in independent retailing in the internationally acclaimed book, "Small Store Survival", and later leading a white paper study of independent retailing, "Challenges of the Future", underwritten in part by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the National Retail Federation Foundation, and the George H. Baum Community Charitable Trust; and

WHEREAS, Jim and Carol Baum together have dedicated themselves in just about every conceivable way to the vitality of their hometown; Jim has been called the "voice of the downtown business community" for his role as director and/or chief executive for more than a dozen organizations, including the Grundy County National Bank, the Morris Hospital, the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce, and the Morris Community High School Board; and Carol has served in the Presbyterian Women's Association, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Morris Women's Club; both have served the First Presbyterian Church of Morris; and

WHEREAS, An urban planner by training, Jim Baum has had an active hand over the years in the development of the city's downtown and Morris as a whole, serving as chairman of the Morris Chamber of Commerce and member of the Morris Planning Commission, as well as director of the Grundy Economic Development Council; he also catalyzed the creation of the Morris Community Trust and the Morris Downtown Development Partnership, Inc., a comprehensive program to revitalize the central business district; and

WHEREAS, Jim Baum served the retail industry, serving as a director for IRMA, including a term as chairman, and as director of the NRF; he was a frequent speaker on issues of small store survival and the redevelopment of small town main streets; and he is a co-founder of the National Small Store Institute and a contributor of articles on issues confronting small retailers; and

WHEREAS, Jim Baum was named NRF's Small Store Retailer of the Year in 1993, and both Jim and Carol Baum were honored by IRMA in 1997 as the Illinois Retailers of the Year; Baum's was also named one of IRMA's "Illinois' Retailers of the 20th Century" in September 2000; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Retail Merchants Association will honor Baum's as one of its 26 charter retail members during IRMA's 50th Anniversary Luncheon on September 19, 2007 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Baums for their longevity in business, their dedication to the retail industry, and their service to their customers and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jim and Carol Baum as a symbol of our respect and admiration.