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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Ronald "Ron" E. Powell, who passed away
4on March 22, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ron Powell was born in rural Wisconsin on April 5,
61935; he served his country in the United States Army and,
7following his service, studied at Northern Illinois
8University, graduating in 1960; and
 
9    WHEREAS, in 1960, Ron Powell began working for the Jewel
10Tea Company in DeKalb, where he successfully led the first and
11only recognition strike against the company; after the strike,
12he joined the staff of Local 881 (formerly the United Retail
13Workers Union, Independent); and
 
14    WHEREAS, Ron Powell began his union career as a field
15representative in 1961 and was promoted to Director of Field
16Operations, Vice President of the Executive Board, and
17Secretary-Treasurer; in 1983, he was elected to the office of
18president; as president, he built Local 881 into the largest
19local union in the United Food and Commercial Workers
20International Union; upon his retirement, he became the longest
21serving Constitutional Officer of Local 881 UFCW;; he was also
22elected Vice President of the Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board

 

 

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1on December 4, 1986 and remained a leading voice in its
2governance under six Illinois AFL-CIO presidents; throughout
3his career, he vigilantly fought to strengthen the rights of
4union members throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana in the
5workplace and in the halls of government; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Ron Powell committed himself to many educational,
7philanthropic, and community endeavors, including the Better
8Boys Foundation, the Little City Foundation, the United Way,
9the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America, and the UFCW
10Local 881 Charitable Foundation; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In addition to his work as a trustee for the
12Village of Mundelein for many years, Ron Powell served a number
13of organizations, including the Illinois State Board of
14Investments, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the Illinois
15Workers' Compensation Advisory Board, the Amalgamated Bank of
16Chicago, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
17Board; he was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National
18Convention in 1996, 2000, and 2008; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Ron Powell was preceded in death by his beloved
20wife, Lois, and his grandson, Ryan Fisher; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Ron Powell is survived by his children, Kelly
22(Mark) Morrissey, Brad (Joanne) Powell, Steven Powell, and

 

 

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1Kerry Fisher; his grandchildren, Nicholas (fiancé Patricia
2Kutrumanes), Mark (Amanda), Michelle, Matthew, Ronald,
3Camille, Michael, Tyler (Koni), Trevor (Jasmine), Sean, and
4Rachel; his great-grandchildren, Braylon, Jaylen, Rylee, and
5Jax; and his dear friend, Penney Wyman; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
8Ronald "Ron" E. Powell and extend our sincere condolences to
9his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
10further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Ron Powell as an expression of our
13deepest sympathy.