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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are
3 proud to honor the life and legacy of those who have made an
4 impact on the lives of the citizens of the State of Illinois;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, Jack B. Williams was a graduate of De La Salle
7 High School; he then completed 3 years of pre-med studies at
8 Northwestern University before joining the United States Army
9 as an infantryman and medic during World War II; he was the
10 recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart as a result
11 of action in Germany in March of 1945; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Jack Williams had a long and distinguished career
13 in State and local government; he served faithfully as a member
14 of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1973 until 1981;
15 he served as mayor of the Village of Franklin Park from 1969
16 until his passing in 1996; and
 
17     WHEREAS, As Mayor of the Village of Franklin Park, Jack
18 Williams concerned himself with the problems of jet noise from
19 O'Hare International Airport and flooding from the Des Plaines
20 River; he was well known by his constituents as a leader that
21 always did what was best for everyone, not just the citizens of
22 his community; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Jack Williams was a past president of the Illinois
2 Municipal League, the chairman of the executive committee of
3 the Chicago Area Transportation Study, and an elected
4 commissioner of the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission;
5 he also served as president of the West Central Municipal
6 Conference of 35 municipalities and as vice-chairman of the
7 West Cook County Solid Waste Agency; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Jack Williams was considered to be an expert on
9 water and flood-water management; he served as chairman and
10 executive director of the Illinois Water Resources Commission;
11 he was the only Cook County mayor to be appointed by the
12 Governor's Task Force on Flood Control to serve on its
13 committee; he also served as vice-chairman of the Des Plaines
14 River Basin Steering Committee on Flood Water Management, the
15 largest flood-water management plan in the U.S.; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Jack Williams was a registered pharmacist who
17 operated 2 pharmacies in Franklin Park from 1949 to 1969; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Jack Williams was instrumental in the planning and
19 construction of the Grand Avenue Underpass in the Village of
20 Franklin Park; beginning his mission to create the underpass in
21 the 1960s, he unfortunately did not live to see its completion
22 in November of 2006; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Jack Williams should be honored in a manner
2 befitting his legacy of selfless service and strong leadership;
3 therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
6 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Grand Avenue Underpass in
7 the Village of Franklin Park be renamed the "Jack B. Williams
8 Underpass" in honor of Jack B. Williams and his many
9 accomplishments; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
11 presented to the mayor of the Village of Franklin Park and the
12 family of Jack B. Williams.