HR0874 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0874 LRB096 20017 GRL 35509 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the Jesse White Tumbling Team on the occasion of the team's 50th anniversary in 2009; and

WHEREAS, The Jesse White Tumbling Team has thrilled audiences since September 26, 1959, when Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, the team's founder and coach, created the team to provide a recreational, athletic, educational, and cultural enrichment experience for young people throughout the State; the team makes over 1,000 appearances each year; and

WHEREAS, The Jesse White Tumbling Team's acrobatic performances can frequently be seen during half-time shows for the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, and Major League Baseball games; the team has appeared on numerous television programs, including Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, The Jenny Jones Show, the Mickey Mouse Club, and How'd They Do That; the team entertains at business and sporting events year-round, including colleges and universities nationwide; the team also performed during the 52nd and 53rd Presidential Inaugural Parades; and

WHEREAS, The Jesse White Tumbling Team also has an international following; the team's fans can be found from Tokyo, Japan, to Hong Kong, China, Bermuda, Jamaica, and Canada; and

WHEREAS, A number of the Jesse White Tumblers, some of whom are as young as 6 years old, are residents of Chicago's Cabrini Green and Henry Horner housing developments; other members of the team are residents from 10 communities within the Chicago metropolitan area; and

WHEREAS, The Jesse White Tumbling Team was designed to be a juvenile delinquency prevention program that helps youngsters "grow tall and straight"; the members are required to abide by Jesse White's strict rules, which include staying in school, maintaining a "C" average in academic coursework, and staying away from gangs and drugs; and

WHEREAS, Due to Jesse White's "tough love" approach and his active involvement as coach, teacher, friend, mentor, confidant, and surrogate father to the members, over 11,500 young men and women have benefited from the program since the team's inception; and

WHEREAS, The Jesse White Tumbling Team will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of the team during a reception and dinner on February 23, 2010 at the United Center in Chicago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the Jesse White Tumbling Team on the occasion of the team's 50th anniversary and thank Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White for his involvement with this wonderful program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White as a symbol of our esteem and respect.