HR1264 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1264 LRB099 21919 MST 48877 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Ron Benner on his 50 years of service at West Chicago Community High School; and

WHEREAS, Ron Benner has been the West Chicago Community High School choir accompanist for two decades; prior to becoming the accompanist, he worked at the school for 27 years as the school's choir director and then as a substitute teacher; and

WHEREAS, Ron Benner started his career in downstate Illinois, jumping from one building to another over the course of six years, to teach band and choir at the grade school and high school level; and

WHEREAS, In 1966, Ron Benner came to West Chicago Community High School to provide needed stability for the choirs, after the school had four separate choir directors in as many years; and

WHEREAS, For 27 years, Ron Benner has dedicated himself to the choir program, which became award-winning and well-respected; and

WHEREAS, Ron Benner also has lead the Madrigals, earning first-place prizes in the process; he directed five musicals between 1977 and 1983, formed the school's first swing choir in 1974, and took his students to sing with Ann Jillian at the Palmer House in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Ron Benner retired from the school in 1993, but continued coming back as a substitute teacher; he dedicated more time to his role as music director of the First United Methodist Church in West Chicago, a position he has held since 1990; and

WHEREAS, A few years after his retirement, he was asked to come back to the school's choir department as an accompanist; a position he has held ever since; and

WHEREAS, Ron Benner will be recognized for his 50 years of service during the choir's final concert of the school year on May 19, 2016 in the school's Weyrauch Auditorium; and

WHEREAS, Ron Benner has served as a mentor and a friend to the musicians and director of West Chicago Community High School, both past and present; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ron Benner on his 50 years of service at West Chicago Community High School; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ron Benner as a symbol of our respect and esteem.