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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of John "Jack" Powers Pearl of Peoria, who
4passed away on January 11, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
6to John Wesley and Mildred Pearl on August 25, 1926; he moved
7with his family to Riverside, attended Riverside Brookfield
8High School, and graduated in 1944; he then enlisted in the
9United States Navy, served in Guam, and was honorably
10discharged in 1946; he attended Bradley University with help
11from the GI Bill; he married Colleen Cassidy on July 5, 1952;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl founded Pearl Companies in 1954 and
14acted as Chairman for over 65 years; he began by selling
15insurance door to door in rural communities throughout the
16greater Peoria area; he developed an innovative partnership
17with the Illinois State Bar Association and CNA Insurance
18Company in 1957; due to these partnerships, Pearl Companies
19became the leading provider of professional liability
20insurance in the state, a position the company retains today;
21the company also grew to include Pearl Insurance Solutions,
22Pearl Technology, and Pearl Insurance New York; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl diversified his company in 1975 when he
2purchased the local Honda Motor Cycle dealership, which led to
3the organization of Pearl Automotive, including ownership of
4Lexus of Peoria, Peoria Toyota, and Autohaus of Peoria; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl consider Peoria his true home and
6demonstrated this through his investment in the community; he
7served as a charter member and past president of the American
8Institute of Professional Association Group Insurance
9Administrators and as a charter member of the Professional
10Insurance Marketing Association; he was an active contributor
11and volunteer for the Children's Miracle Network, the
12Children's Hospital of Illinois, the United Way, Easter Seals,
13the Salvation Army, and the Catholic Diocese of Peoria; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl received several recognitions for his
15achievements in business, including the Master of Mass
16Marketing Award from the Mass Marketing Insurance Institute and
17the Sigma Chi Significant Sig Award; he was the second
18recipient of the Legend Award from the Professional Association
19Group Insurance Administrators; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl set an example and developed a culture
21of giving within Pearl Companies that continues today; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl was preceded in death by his wife,

 

 

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1Colleen; his parents; his sister, Ginger Rump; and his
2son-in-law, Tom Whitten; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Jack Pearl is survived by his children, Linda
4(Mike) Kepple, Dr. Greg (Ashley) Pearl, Lisa Whitten, Gary
5(Sarah) Pearl, Leslie (Matt) Vonachen, and Laurie Pearl; and
6his twenty-three grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
8ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
9John "Jack" Powers Pearl and extend our sincere condolences to
10his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Jack Pearl as an expression of our
14deepest sympathy.