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HR 510

CONGRATS-RAY LONG

104th Regular Session Introduced by Ryan Spain

H.R. 510 formally congratulates two individuals, Bob Rathbun for his Hall of Fame broadcasting career and Ray Long on retirement after 40+ years as an investigative journalist.

Resolution Adopted
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Bill Summary · HR 510

Summary — H.R. 510 (CONGRATS‑RAY LONG)

Status: Resolution Adopted
Introduced: January 16, 2025
Classification: House resolution (congratulatory/memorial)

Note up front: the legislative text provided appears to include two different congratulatory resolutions merged into one document. One section congratulates sportscaster Bob Rathbun on his induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame; a separate section is an Illinois House congratulatory resolution honoring investigative journalist Ray Long on his retirement. The metadata and sponsor list also appear mixed. The summary below describes the substantive content and procedural history and highlights the inconsistency for verification.

Purpose and intent

  • Primary purpose (as presented): to formally congratulate and honor individuals for professional achievements and public service.
    • Bob Rathbun: congratulated on induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of a long career in sports broadcasting.
    • Ray Long: congratulated on retirement after more than 40 years covering Illinois politics as an investigative journalist.

Key provisions

  • Bob Rathbun section:

    • Acknowledges Rathbun’s 28th season as Atlanta Hawks play‑by‑play announcer and his status as the franchise’s longest‑tenured television play‑by‑play announcer.
    • Notes his national broadcasting work (CBS, ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV), 10 seasons with the WNBA Atlanta Dream, and awards (12 Regional Emmy Awards, eight Sportscaster of the Year honors, 2012 Georgia Sportscaster of the Year).
    • Recognizes other honors (ACC Distinguished Service Award, Hampton Roads Sports Media Hall of Fame, Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame).
    • Directs the Clerk of the House to make an appropriate copy of the resolution available for distribution to Bob Rathbun.

  • Ray Long section:

    • Recognizes more than 40 years as an investigative/statehouse reporter (Peoria Journal Star, Chicago Sun‑Times, Associated Press, Chicago Tribune).
    • Notes academic background (bachelor’s and master’s from Sangamon State University / University of Illinois Springfield), publications (The House That Madigan Built), major coverage (Madigan, Blagojevich, Obama’s early campaigns, budget impasses, city/county government), professional leadership (founding member of Capitolbeat), and honors (Journalist of the Year, UIS Bill Miller Hall of Fame, Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017 and 2018).
    • Congratulates Ray Long on his retirement and directs presentation of a suitable copy of the resolution.

Who is affected / impact

  • Directly honors Bob Rathbun and Ray Long; both receive public recognition and an official copy of the resolution.
  • No changes to law, regulations, funding, or government programs. No fiscal or regulatory impact.
  • Symbolic: recognizes professional achievement and service; intended for public record and ceremonial distribution.

Procedural / timeline highlights

  • Introduced: January 16, 2025 (referred to House Committee on the Judiciary the same day).
  • Actions recorded include placement on calendars, suspension of rules, enrollment/reporting, and adoption:
    • House read and adopted March 4, 2025 (House first readers and adoption entries).
    • Reported enrolled and Rules suspended March 27, 2025; Adopted March 27, 2025.
    • Additional filings and placement on calendars noted later in 2025 (filed with Clerk Oct 15, placed on calendar Oct 16). These multiple dates are consistent with a document that may have been handled or refiled in more than one chamber or jurisdiction.
  • Final status as provided: Resolution Adopted (October 16, 2025).

Important caveat / recommendation

  • The provided document appears to conflate two separate congratulatory resolutions (one for Bob Rathbun, likely originating from Georgia or a state legislative body, and one for Ray Long, clearly an Illinois House resolution). Sponsors and procedural entries are also mixed. Before relying on this summary for official purposes, verify the authoritative source(s) (state legislative journals or the clerk’s office) to confirm which chamber and which single resolution text corresponds to H.R. 510 in the relevant jurisdiction.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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