Executive Order

              1353.9
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2008:no.2
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FILED
INDEX DEPARTMENT
MAY 08 2008
IN THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE
2008·2ı EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING INTERSTATE 57 BETWEENı MILE POST 0 AND MILE POST 106 AS THE KEN GRAY EXPRESSWAYı
WHEREAS, Congressman Ken Gray was a native son of Illinois, born in West Frankfort, Illinois on November 14,1924 as the youngest of three sons to Thomas Wilson Gray and Anna (Reed) Gray; and
WHEREAS, the Gray family moved to the Shawnee Forest in Pope County and Ken Gray attended the Wooten School; and
WHEREAS, the Gray family returned to Franklin County and Ken Gray graduated from Frankfort Community High School in 1942; and
WHEREAS, Ken Gray joined the United States Army Air Corps at the age of 17, became a helicopter pilot known as the "Flying Sergeant," and served as a crew chief with the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa and participated in combat missions over southern France and central Europe before his discharge in 1945; and
WHEREAS, Ken Gray was awarded three Bronze Stars, the European­African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and Marksman Badge with carbine bar; and
WHEREAS, Ken Gray returned to West Frankfort and served as Commander of the American Legion; and
WHEREAS, Ken Gray was first elected to the United States Congress in 1954 and served ten consecutive terms; and
WHEREAS, Ken Gray served two additional terms in the United States Congress beginning in 1985; and
WHEREAS, Ken Gray was instrumental in bringing the interstate highway system to Southern Illinois and was a relentless advocate for economic development for the communities in Southern Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Ken Gray has founded the "U.S. Congressman Ken Gray Presidential Museum," a museum in his hometown of West Frankfort displaying a collection of presidential memorabilia, a history of coal mining in Southern Illinois, and other artifacts from his many years of public service; and
WHEREAS, as Governor of Illinois, I wish to permanently commemorate the distinguished career of Congressman Ken Gray and his personal connection to Interstate 57 and the State of Illinois.