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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives are
3saddened to learn of the death of Peoria icon, Harold A. "Pete"
4Vonachen, on June 10, 2013; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen was born on August 31, 1925, in
6Peoria, to Dr. Harold A. and Bernice (Verner) Vonachen; he
7served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; he returned home
8and attended Bradley University, graduating in 1949; and he
9married Donna J. Hurst on May 11, 1957, in Peoria; and
 
10    WHEREAS, In 1955, Harold Vonachen opened Vonachen's
11Junction restaurant, whose iconic railroad cars, great food,
12and owner's larger-than-life personality drew patrons from
13throughout the State; he sold the restaurant in 1970 and became
14president of Peoria Blacktop, Inc.; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen rescued professional baseball in
16Peoria when he purchased the Peoria Suns in 1983; his
17commitment to family entertainment led to many highly
18successful Peoria Chiefs teams, alternating with Cardinals'
19and Cubs' affiliations; past and future Hall of Fame players
20have played in now, Dozer Park, one of the nation's finest
21Class A stadiums; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Over his lifetime Harold Vonachen served as
2commodore for the Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club,
3president of the Peoria Pacers College Baseball Team, director
4of the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, director of the
5Peoria Cerebral Palsy Board, and member of the St. Thomas
6Parochial School Board; he was president of the advisory board
7for OSF St. Francis Medical Center, vice-president and a
8trustee for the Peoria Park District, chairman of the City of
9Peoria Liquor Commission, a member of the Bradley University
10Chiefs Club, president of Peoria Mobile Medic Ambulance Co.,
11and a member of the board of trustees for Bradley University;
12he also served as chairman for the Salvation Army Tree of
13Lights and as honorary chairman of the Children's Miracle
14Network Telethon at the Children's Hospital of Illinois; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen was awarded the Neve Harms
16Meritorious Service Sports Award in 1979, the Bradley
17University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985, the Sporting
18News Professional Baseball Class A Minor League Executive of
19the Year in 1985, the Tri-County Sports Figure of the Year in
201985, the Bradley University Centurion in 1986, the University
21of Notre Dame Man of the Year in 1988, the Caterpillar
22Community Service Award, the Salvation Army Other Award in
231991, the Lewis Burger Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Award
24in 1992, the National Society of Fundraising Executives
25Philanthropy Award in 1992, the Robert H. Michel Lifetime

 

 

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1Achievement Award in 2002, the Ambassador of Baseball-State of
2Illinois Chicago Pitch and Hit Club Award in 2005, and the
3Lions Club Outstanding Achievement Award for JJ Anderson
4Basketball Camp in 2009; he was inducted into the Greater
5Peoria Sports Wall of Fame in 1979, the Greater Peoria Sports
6Hall of Fame 1988, and the Bradley University Sports Hall of
7Fame in 1994; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen met his best friend, Harry Caray,
9while managing concessions at Bradley University Fieldhouse in
101950; the Hall of Fame broadcaster would routinely call out to
11"my good friend, Pete Vonachen, in Peoria" during Cubs games;
12his 1998 eulogy for Harry was celebrated nationally for its
13humor and its humanity; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen was cherished far and wide for his
15extraordinary sense of humor, friendships with those he
16encountered from all walks of life, and his love for baseball;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen was preceded in death by his wife,
19Donna; his parents; his brothers, Jack and Tom; and his
20sisters, Mary Ann, Bobbie, and Marta; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen is survived by his daughter, Mary
22"Mikie" Shadid; his sons, Rocky, Greg (Kathy), Dan (Jennifer),

 

 

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1and Mark (Amy); his sister, Susie (Jim) Dawson; his
2grandchildren, Megan Vonachen, Lauren Shadid, Abby Vonachen,
3Erica Vonachen, Claire Vonachen, Michelle Vonachen, Druschel
4Vonachen, Jabe Vonachen, Natalie Vonachen, and Jac Vonachen;
5therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8we mourn the passing of Harold Vonachen and extend our sincere
9condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
10him; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Harold Vonachen as an expression of
13our deepest sympathy.