HR0213 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0213 LRB095 11631 KXB 33681 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, John Zengeler established "The New York Steam Dye Works," a clothing cleaning business, at 208 South Clark St. in Chicago in 1857; and

WHEREAS, Zengeler moved to S. Prairie St. in 1866, which was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, then rebuilt at 2323 S. Cottage Grove Ave. in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, John's eldest son Arthur W. ("A.W.") Zengeler joined his father in the business in 1896 and opened a new location as A.W. Zengeler Cleaners in 1906; and

WHEREAS, In 1930, A.W.'s sons, Ralph, Art and Al, became active in the business, with Ralph becoming the third generation of leadership in 1948; and

WHEREAS, In 1962, Ralph's son Robert became the fourth generation to lead the family business; and

WHEREAS, Three of Robert's six children - Robert, Jr., Michael, and Thomas - became the fifth generation of the Zengeler family to join the business; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, Thomas Zengeler became President and fifth generation leader of the family owned company; and

WHEREAS, Zengeler Cleaners has grown to seven stores in Lake and Cook Counties, with an eighth store planned for later in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Zengeler Cleaners is now home to 145 employees, 27 of whom have been with the company for 20 years or more; and

WHEREAS, Zengeler Cleaners was recognized as the 2005 "Business of the Year" by the Deerfield-Bannockburn-Riverwoods Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Zengeler Cleaners has grown to become the primary contributor to the Glass Slipper Project, an organization assisting thousands of high school women; and

WHEREAS, Zengeler Cleaners is now the Midwest's oldest and largest dry cleaner; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, Zengeler Cleaners celebrates its 150th Anniversary and a proud history in which it overcame the Great Chicago Fire, the Civil War, two World Wars and the Great Depression, emerging as one of the premier fabric care specialists in the United States; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend the Zengeler family for successfully passing down their proud work ethic and commitment to quality for 150 years and through five generations, a rare and virtually unheard of business accomplishment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the contributions to our economy that A.W. Zengeler Cleaners has made over the years through the employment of hundreds of hard working and talented men and women, as well as the many and significant charitable contributions the company has made to enhance the life of the Illinois communities they serve; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we congratulate the Zengeler family and the employees of A.W. Zengeler Cleaners for their outstanding accomplishments and for reaching this sesquicentennial milestone; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Zengeler family as a symbol of our respect.