093_HR0278 LRB093 11735 KEF 15588 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Fifty years ago, the city of Breese's 3 businessmen/women realized that they had a choice, they could 4 join together to promote growth and economic development or 5 they could retain the status quo and let their coal mining 6 town wither; and 7 WHEREAS, They chose the proactive approach and formed the 8 Breese Business & Professional Association, now called the 9 Breese Chamber of Commerce, which is now celebrating the 10 foresight of the group's founders and the 50th anniversary of 11 its existence; and 12 WHEREAS, The Chamber was created on February 13, 1953 to 13 "foster and develop in its membership a spirit of friendship 14 and cooperation; set up and practice the highest type of 15 sales and merchandise methods; exude a high standard of 16 business ethics; and strive to make Breese the prominent 17 trading center of our county and the surrounding community"; 18 and 19 WHEREAS, The original officers included Sylvester 20 Schwartz, Charles Niemeyer, Carl Koch, Lawrence Robben, Louis 21 Heyer, Ruth Garlich, and Richard Meissner; at the 50th 22 anniversary celebration, the current Chamber President, Chad 23 Sellers, expressed his appreciation to all of the past 24 officers for helping to make the Chamber's past 50 years a 25 success; therefore, be it 26 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 27 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 28 we congratulate the Breese Chamber of Commerce as it 29 celebrates 50 years of outstanding contributions to its 30 community, and we wish it continued success in the future; 31 and be it further -2- LRB093 11735 KEF 15588 r 1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 2 presented to the Breese Chamber of Commerce Board of 3 Directors as an expression of our respect and esteem.