RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, With heavy hearts at our imminent loss, tempered by happiness for the success of a valued colleague, the Members of this Body wish to congratulate attorney M. Rose Kelly on the occasion of her retirement from the City of Chicago Law Department; and
WHEREAS, Rose Kelly received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1976; a J.D. from John Marshall Law School in 1981 and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California at Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, From 1977 to 1981, Rose Kelly was employed with the Mayor's Office of Employment and Training as Supervisor of Program Review and Audit. Her diligent work, ensuring that subcontractors complied with federal regulations and guidelines, resulted in significant benefits to the City's balance sheet; and
WHEREAS, Rose was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1981 and became a member ofthe Federal Trial Bar in 1984; and
WHEREAS, Following a stint in private practice, Rose Kelly practiced as an Assistant State's Attorney in the Cook County Juvenile Division, and then served as Chief Counsel for the Illinois Department of Financial Institutions; and
WHEREAS, In 1998 Ms. Kelly took a position as Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Torts Division ofthe City's Law Department, then moved to the Legal Counsel Division. Her hard work and skills were recognized with a promotion to Senior Counsel in 2003, and she has served with vigor and distinction in that position ever since; and
WHEREAS, In her years as a member ofthe Legal Counsel Division, Rose Kelly has become an indispensable and trusted counselor to elected officials, appointed officers and employees Citywide; and
WHEREAS, Rose is admired and valued as a "go-to" person for her crisp, no-nonsense advice, cogent analysis, hard work and wide-ranging institutional knowledge on subjects ranging from finance to firearms; and
WHEREAS, Department heads, Mayoral advisors and Aldermen have come to accept and even appreciate Rose's firm, emphatic assessment: "No, you can't do that"; and
WHEREAS, Rose Kelly has been married since 1999 to her sweetheart Dennis Hughes, now retired from his position as a Senior Vice President at Bank of America; and
WHEREAS, Born in Luttermore County in Galway, Ireland, Rose Kelly holds in her heart a special fondness for the Emerald Isle. She serves on the Board of the Embassy Club Homeowners Association, and the Board of Advisors of Catholic Charities, and in her spare time, enjoys travel with Dennis, home decorating, gardening, exercising and discussing politics; and
WHEREAS, While we will miss her at City Hall, we take comfort in knowing that Rose will enjoy great success in the future no matter what pursuits she chooses; now, therefore,
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BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this tenth day of February, 2016, do hereby congratulate City Attorney M. Rose Kelly for her valued service as Senior Counsel in the City Law Department and wish her all the best in her future endeavors; and
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to M. Rose Kelly as a token of our gratitude and esteem for her valued service to the people of the City of Chicago.
