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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to honor Shorty Mills for his many
4accomplishments and thank him for his service to his community;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills was born Vincent Mills on February
719, 1943, at the Illinois Research Hospital; his parents are
8Ruby and Charles Mills; a fatal accident took the life of
9Shorty's father when he was 3 years old; his mother then raised
106 boys alone; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills is one of the most respected living
12martial art instructors in the world; his martial arts career
13began in 1956, at the age of 14; since that time, he has
14amassed the following credentials: 10th Degree Black Belt in
15Pagoda Ryu (1996); Founder of the Pagoda Ryu Martial Arts
16System, which was tested and certified as a viable system of
17martial arts in 1996 by the world Martial Arts Federation and
18the Midwest United Martial Arts Association; 10th Degree Black
19Belt in Shuri Ryu (1996); 10th Degree Black Belt in Moo Do Kwon
20Tae Kwon Do (1993); 6th Degree Black Belt in Aikido from the
21Yoshinkai System of Aikido (1985); 5th Degree Black Belt in
22Kendo (1980); he is also a licensed airplane pilot (instrument
23rated), a certified diver (multi-ratings), a licensed

 

 

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1electrical engineer and electrical contractor, and a member of
2the Rotary Club and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills attended and graduated from Chicago
4Vocational High School; he subsequently earned his bachelor's
5degree in electrical engineering from the Illinois Institute of
6Technology in 1964, his master's degree in operations research
7from Roosevelt University in 1982, his master's degree in urban
8development/city planning from Northwestern University in
91985, and his Ph.D. in martial science from the University of
10Connecticut in 1995; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills joined the United States Navy in
121964; in 1965, he was admitted into the United States Navy
13Officers Candidate School; in 1968, he served in Vietnam for a
14total of 26 months; after completing his two 13-month tours in
15Vietnam, he was stationed aboard the USS Sylvania for a year;
16he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1969; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills played professional basketball in
18Italy in 1969 until an injury forced him to leave the game; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In 1986, Shorty Mills met the love of his life; in
201995, he married Pamela Annette Mills; together, they have 2
21beautiful daughters, Christina and Tiffanie; in 1997, Shorty
22moved his family to Dynasty Lakes in Hazel Crest; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills' devotion to his art has extended
2into volunteering for various community events; he has
3developed self defense training programs for the Cook County
4Sheriff's Court Services Department; he has developed and
5taught rape prevention seminars for the Cook County Sheriff's
6Department and the Chicago Police Department; he also helps
7underprivileged children in becoming the best they can be
8through his non-profit organization, Pagoda Ryu System;
9therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we honor Shorty Mills for his many accomplishments and thank
13him for his service to his community; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to Shorty Mills as a symbol of our esteem and
16respect.