HR1088

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Reverend William 
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H. Copeland, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement as pastor of 
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Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Kankakee; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. was born in Winn 
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Parish, Louisiana; after completing high school in Louisiana, 
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he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri Western 
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University in St. Joseph, Missouri; he also attended National 
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College in Kansas City, Missouri, and the University of 
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Missouri at Kansas City; he received theological training from 
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Western Baptist College, Kansas City National Baptist, and 
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William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri; he holds an 
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Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Morris College and 
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McKinley Theological Seminary; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. was called to 
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pastor Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in 1971; under 
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his leadership, the church erected a half-million dollar 
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edifice in 1976, with the mortgage being fully satisfied in 
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1986; the church then purchased and renovated what now serves 
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as the Morning Star Community Center for $300,000; 
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additionally, the ministries of Morning Star have grown 
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tremendously, and the church  is currently recognized as a 
 


 






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positive and influential social and political icon in the 
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Kankakeeland community; and


 
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    WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. is active in 
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many civic and community organizations; he has served as 
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president of the Kankakee branch of the NAACP and served as 
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president of the  Northeastside Ministerial Alliance; he is a 
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member of the Kankakee Interfaith Clergy and the Young Men's 
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Christian Association; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. has been the 
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recipient of numerous awards; he received the Ebony Esteem 
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Award for "Man of the Year" and "Most Outstanding Man in 
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Religion" for Kankakee County in August of 1975; he was named 
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"Minister of the Year" by the Midwestern Illinois Laymen's 
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Fellowship; he has also been the recipient of an Illinois State 
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Police Community Service Award, a Kankakee Law Enforcement 
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Award, the NAACP President's Award for Outstanding Community 
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Service, the Dr. Martin Luther King Award from the City of 
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Miami, Florida, and Keys to the City of both Miami, Florida and 
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Kankakee; and
 
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    WHEREAS, A banquet will be held for Reverend William H. 
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Copeland, Jr. on Saturday, April 19, 2008 in honor of his great 
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contributions to the people of the Kankakee area; therefore, be 
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it

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. on the occasion 
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of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy 
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retirement years; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. as an expression 
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of our esteem.