HR1363 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1363 LRB098 23245 GRL 62484 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Paul and Barbara Segobiano on the occasion of their 58 years of dedicated service to the Bloomington Knockers Youth Football Team; and

WHEREAS, The Bloomington Knockers Youth Football Team is a program that gives kids in the community a chance to learn the skills and fundamentals of the game; for 3 months each fall, Paul and Barbara Segobiano have dedicated themselves to working with children ages 8-15; they have helped to provide an opportunity for children of all economic and ethnic backgrounds to participate in a highly respected program; the Bloomington Knockers program has mentored and inspired over 6,000 children through the program while teaching them the values of tolerance, hard work, discipline, and respect; and

WHEREAS, Paul Segobiano was born and raised on Bloomington's west side; he was driven to form the Knockers after noticing that youth football players on the west side were facing better equipped players from elsewhere; he approached Father George Casper, a priest at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, who helped raise funds for the program; Paul Segobiano then allowed Father Casper to name the team; Father Casper chose the name Knockers in honor of the Knock Shrine in western Ireland, where a fellow priest's blind mother reportedly had her sight restored; and

WHEREAS, The vision for the Knockers was clear from the start: to teach discipline and respect for others and to create a family atmosphere; and

WHEREAS, The heart and soul of the Knockers Program has been Paul and Barbara Segobiano; and

WHEREAS, Paul and Barbara Segobiano have been married for 59 years and have 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren; they are both graduates of Trinity High School and have served on several school committees at St. Patrick's, St. Mary's, and Central Catholic High School; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Segobiano is a registered nurse and a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor; she helped start the Women's Health Center at St. Joseph Hospital and co-chaired the first Twin Cities Festival; and

WHEREAS, Paul Segobiano is a Director of the Great Plains LIFE Foundation; he has also been elected to the McLean County Board for 42 years and has worked with many community organizations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Paul and Barbara Segobiano on the occasion of their 58 years of dedicated service to the Bloomington Knockers Youth Football Team and wish them great happiness and success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Paul and Barbara Segobiano as a symbol of our respect and esteem.