| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives wish to congratulate Jon DePriest on receiving | ||||||
| 4 | the esteemed 2024 National Patriot Award from the Professional | ||||||
| 5 | Golfers of America (PGA); and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, The National Patriot Award celebrates a PGA | ||||||
| 7 | professional who personifies patriotism and demonstrates | ||||||
| 8 | dedication to the brave men and women who have served and | ||||||
| 9 | protected the United States; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, Jon DePriest is a member of the Gateway PGA | ||||||
| 11 | Section and Director of Golf Operations at the Sunset Hills | ||||||
| 12 | Country Club in Edwardsville; under his leadership, the Sunset | ||||||
| 13 | Hills Country Club has become a beacon of support for | ||||||
| 14 | veterans; and | ||||||
| 15 | WHEREAS, As the son of a Korean War veteran and a respected | ||||||
| 16 | PGA member for 39 years, Jon DePriest has passionately | ||||||
| 17 | supported veterans, recognizing golf as a powerful tool for | ||||||
| 18 | therapy and community reintegration; and | ||||||
| 19 | WHEREAS, Jon DePriest has been a key PGA HOPE instructor | ||||||
| 20 | since the program's inception, contributing to its growth and | ||||||
| 21 | success; in 2022, he launched a pioneering women's only PGA | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | HOPE program, which has seen nearly 40 female veterans | ||||||
| 2 | graduate; his commitment extends beyond instruction, as he has | ||||||
| 3 | raised over $900,000 for veterans' causes, hosting free-play | ||||||
| 4 | days and leading Adaptive Golf Training Seminars for fellow | ||||||
| 5 | PGA members; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Jon DePriest is a multi-award winner at the | ||||||
| 7 | section level, and his accolades include being a three-time | ||||||
| 8 | recipient of the Patriot Award in 2017, 2021, and 2023, being | ||||||
| 9 | named the PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 2015 and 2024, | ||||||
| 10 | and receiving the prestigious President's Plaque for Growth of | ||||||
| 11 | the Game in 2013; and | ||||||
| 12 | WHEREAS, Jon DePriest's leadership and moral character | ||||||
| 13 | inspire his peers and the golf community, and his tireless | ||||||
| 14 | efforts have provided veterans with opportunities to engage in | ||||||
| 15 | golf and have inspired fellow PGA members to focus on military | ||||||
| 16 | service and support; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, The Gateway PGA Section and the PGA of America | ||||||
| 18 | have already extended their heartfelt congratulations to Jon | ||||||
| 19 | DePriest for his exceptional achievements and profound impact | ||||||
| 20 | on the military community through the game of golf; therefore, | ||||||
| 21 | be it | ||||||
| 22 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 2 | we congratulate Jon DePriest on receiving the 2024 National | ||||||
| 3 | Patriot Award from the PGA and acknowledge the passion and | ||||||
| 4 | dedication that earned him this honor; and be it further | ||||||
| 5 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 6 | presented to Jon DePriest as an expression of our respect and | ||||||
| 7 | esteem. | ||||||