[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 22 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E144-E145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DUANE NOLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2003

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Senator N. Duane 
Noland. He has served in the Illinois General Assembly since 1990, 
serving eight years in the House of Representatives and four years in 
the Senate.
  He served with distinction and honor in both chambers, most recently 
being selected as Assistant Majority Leader in the Senate.
  He graduated from Blue Mound public schools and the University of 
Illinois where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture 
Education/Economics.
  In his non-legislative life, Senator Noland spends many hours helping 
farm his family's seventh generation centennial farm.
  Senator Noland also works as assistant vice president/marketing 
specialist with Hickory Point Bank & Trust in Decatur.

[[Page E145]]

  Senator Noland has worked to ensure state government lives within its 
means, promote a strong agricultural economy while balancing the needs 
of rural and urban residents, and preserve quality of life through safe 
schools legislation, tough anti-crime measures and bills to help senior 
citizens remain independent.
  He has helped pass such significant legislation for our rural 
communities as the ban on MTBE, the establishment of drummer silty clay 
loam as our state soil, the AgriFIRST value-added agriculture 
incentives, and Route 51 expansion.
  He is a board member for the American Red Cross, a former board 
member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Growers 
Association, and the Lincoln Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of 
America, and a member of the Millikin University Board of Trustees.
  He has been honored by numerous organizations including the Illinois 
Health Care Association, Baby Talk, Illinois Farm Bureau, ABATE, 
Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce for Decatur and Macon County, and the 
American Soybean Association.
  Senator Noland was born and raised in Blue Mound, Illinois where he 
met his wife, Tina Beckett Noland, and where they now raise their sons 
Grant and Blake.
  N. Duane Noland will be sorely missed and we wish him all the best in 
his future endeavors.

                          ____________________