HJ0060 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0060 LRB096 13029 GRL 27259 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are proud to honor the life and legacy of those who have made an impact on the lives of the citizens of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Jack B. Williams was a graduate of De La Salle High School; he then completed 3 years of pre-med studies at Northwestern University before joining the United States Army as an infantryman and medic during World War II; he was the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart as a result of action in Germany in March of 1945; and

WHEREAS, Jack Williams had a long and distinguished career in State and local government; he served faithfully as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 until 1981; he served as mayor of the Village of Franklin Park from 1969 until his passing in 1996; and

WHEREAS, As Mayor of the Village of Franklin Park, Jack Williams concerned himself with the problems of jet noise from O'Hare International Airport and flooding from the Des Plaines River; he was well known by his constituents as a leader that always did what was best for everyone, not just the citizens of his community; and

WHEREAS, Jack Williams was a past president of the Illinois Municipal League, the chairman of the executive committee of the Chicago Area Transportation Study, and an elected commissioner of the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission; he also served as president of the West Central Municipal Conference of 35 municipalities and as vice-chairman of the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency; and

WHEREAS, Jack Williams was considered to be an expert on water and flood-water management; he served as chairman and executive director of the Illinois Water Resources Commission; he was the only Cook County mayor to be appointed by the Governor's Task Force on Flood Control to serve on its committee; he also served as vice-chairman of the Des Plaines River Basin Steering Committee on Flood Water Management, the largest flood-water management plan in the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, Jack Williams was a registered pharmacist who operated 2 pharmacies in Franklin Park from 1949 to 1969; and

WHEREAS, Jack Williams was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Grand Avenue Underpass in the Village of Franklin Park; beginning his mission to create the underpass in the 1960s, he unfortunately did not live to see its completion in November of 2006; and

WHEREAS, Jack Williams should be honored in a manner befitting his legacy of selfless service and strong leadership; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Grand Avenue Underpass in the Village of Franklin Park be renamed the "Jack B. Williams Underpass" in honor of Jack B. Williams and his many accomplishments; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the mayor of the Village of Franklin Park and the family of Jack B. Williams.