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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor Louanner Peters, the first
4 African-American woman to be named Illinois Deputy Governor;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, The ninth of twelve children, Louanner grew up on
7 a farm in Angie, Louisiana; her father died when she was eight,
8 leaving behind a wife and twelve children, nine of whom still
9 lived at home; during this time of family struggle Louanner's
10 mother instilled into her children an awesome sense of family,
11 responsibility, and perseverance; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Despite early hardships, Louanner graduated from
13 high school and continued to pursue her education; she enrolled
14 in Louisiana State University (LSU) where she earned a
15 Bachelor's degree in political science; in 1969, while
16 attending LSU, Louanner and a coalition of fellow students
17 helped to elect Baton Rouge's first African-American city
18 council member; Louanner relocated to Chicago where she earned
19 her Master's degree in social work from the Jane Addams School
20 of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago; and
 
21     WHEREAS, In 1975 she served as founding Director of the
22 Flannery Senior Health Care Center; with her public service
23 career well underway, Louanner began a ten-year stint of
24 service on Capitol Hill in 1981, serving as Chief of Staff for
25 Illinois Congressman Gus Savage; while on Capitol Hill she
26 sought to address issues related to social and economic
27 inequities and civil rights injustices; Louanner's efforts
28 influenced Illinois politics and policy for almost three
29 decades; and
 
30     WHEREAS, From 1995 through 1998, Louanner served as
31 Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Washington

 

 

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1 Convention Center Authority; under her leadership Washington
2 D.C. built the largest structure in our nation's capital which
3 is to this day a hub for economic growth; she then served as
4 Deputy Director for Voter Empowerment for the NAACP, as well as
5 Outreach Coordinator for the NAACP National Voter Fund; and
 
6     WHEREAS, In 1988 Louanner was confronted with a
7 life-altering challenge when she was diagnosed with breast
8 cancer; although it was one of her life's greatest obstacles,
9 the journey became one of her greatest triumphs; her ability to
10 tame the adverse affects of the disease added another dimension
11 to her life-long commitment to advocacy; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Louanner's commitment to public service is
13 resolute; she has served as a consultant to the United States
14 Department of Defense, Breast Cancer Research Program, as a
15 professional staff member on the Committee on Public Works, the
16 Economic Development Subcommittee, and the Public Buildings
17 and Grounds Subcommittee of the United States House of
18 Representatives; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Louanner has dedicated her life to many causes; in
20 addition to her passions for breast cancer research and
21 education, she has also worked tenaciously on policies in areas
22 affecting senior citizens, families, and children; she is a
23 diligent steward of Governor Blagojevich's priorities and
24 policies; her leadership ensures State social service agencies
25 are responsive to the needs of Illinois' citizens; and
 
26     WHEREAS, Louanner's story encapsulates the American spirit
27 and through her contributions she has become one of Illinois'
28 authentic treasures; her most treasured role in life, however,
29 is that of mother to her son Joseph Peters, and grandmother to
30 Joseph Peters Jr.; therefore, be it
 
31     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

 

 

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1 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
2 we congratulate Louanner Peters on being named the first
3 African-American woman to serve as Illinois Deputy Governor;
4 and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6 presented to Louanner Peters, as an expression of our respect
7 and esteem.