HR0397 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0397 LRB103 33855 MST 63670 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Rev. Dr. Joseph Edward "Joe" Hill, who passed away on July 7, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Minnie and Joseph Hill on October 12, 1945; he graduated from Divoll Elementary School and Vashon High School in St. Louis, where he was part of the track team, sang in the school choir, and was inducted into the National Honor Society; he received his bachelor's degree in education from Harris-Stowe State College, where he pledged the Omega Psi Phi fraternity as an undergraduate and was elected Basileus of the Omicron Sigma Chapter; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill taught at Soldan International Studies High School and then in the Banneker District; as he launched his career at IBM, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he spent two years overseas based in Seoul, South Korea as a combat medic and also taught school, mostly in adult education; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill returned to the U.S. and continued to pursue his education; he obtained three master's degrees, one in higher education and two in political science from Northeastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle; following this, he gained experience at Educational Developmental Laboratories in New York City before relocating to Chicago, where he worked as a teacher within the Chicago Public School system; during this period, he pursued his doctorate in business management; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill began his career with AT&T as an account executive in 1979, specializing in major financial markets; he consistently demonstrated exceptional performance, placing him among the top 5% of AT&T Achievers Club members for multiple years; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill was a member of Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York and Fellowship Baptist Church in Chicago and a longtime member of Christ Universal Temple (CUT), where he was ordained as a minister; at CUT, he taught classes at the Johnnie Coleman Institute and later served as the chief operating officer; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill established the Power Circle Institute and founded Power Circle Congregation, Inc. in 1996; he was senior minister for a total of 27 years and authored six books; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill was a practical joker; he loved to scare his sisters and make others squeal and holler; he also loved to go to the casino with his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Scott; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Hill is survived by his sisters, Yvonne Hopper and Marilyn Louise Holmes; his brother, Keith Byron Hill; his niece, Danielle Bush; his nephews, Anthony White II, Keith Joseph Hill, Desmond Scott, and Jonathan Holmes; and his cousins, Godchildren, friends, and fellow ministerial associates; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Rev. Dr. Joseph Edward "Joe" Hill and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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