HR0310 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0310 LRB096 12498 GRL 25559 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Arturo Velasquez, who passed away on April 17, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez was born in 1915 in Tototlan, Jalisco, Mexico; he came to the United States at the age of eight; he graduated from Haines Elementary School and attended Crane Technical High School; he received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service in 1981 from the National College of Education and a Doctorate of Public Service from Saint Xavier College in 1988; and

WHEREAS, In 1938, during the "Great Depression", Arturo Velasquez founded the Velasquez Automatic Music Company at 4539 South Ashland Avenue in the Back of the Yards neighborhood; for many years, he sold arcade games and Mexican music for jukeboxes to Latino restaurants; he was well known in his neighborhood as a generous supporter of programs and scholarships to help young people there; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the United States Army during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez was the founder of the Illinois Federation of Mexican Americans in 1958; he co-founded in 1967 and served as charter president of the Azteca Lions Club; he also played key roles in founding the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, the Federation of Mexican-Americans, the Spanish Speaking Study Commission, the Mexican Civic Society, and the Mexican-American Democrats of Cook County, among many others; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez served as a trustee of the City Colleges of Chicago for 10 years; in 2008, Richard J. Daley College rededicated and renamed its West Side Technical Institute the Arturo Velasquez West Side Technical Institute in honor of Mr. Velasquez and his work; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez gave more than fifty years of dedicated service to the Cordi-Marian Settlement House; he was the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his outstanding contributions, including the American Legion Manuel Perez Post (#1017) 1964 "Man of the Year" award, the Counsel General of Mexico's 1967 "Man of the Year" award, the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago's Chairman of the Board and 1980 Volunteer of the Year awards, the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation's 1984 "Man of the Year" award, the Mexican Civic Society's 1986 "Man of the Year" award, the St. Augustine College's "Puente" Award, "The Ohtli" Award, Mexico's highest honor, The Chicago Historical Society's 2002 "Making History" Award, and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2006 "Pipila" Award; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez is survived by his wife of 72 years, Shirley; his children, Arthur, Edward, Carmen, and Maria Elena; his 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Marina, Eliseo, Josefina, and Elisia; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Arturo Velasquez; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Arturo Velasquez as an expression of our sympathy.