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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 Richard 
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D. McCreary II on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as 
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Pastor of the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in 
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Phoenix; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II was born in Evergreen, 
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Alabama, to the late Mr. Richard D. McCreary, Sr. and Leodia P. 
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McCreary; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II graduated from the 
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Conecuh County Training School of Evergreen; he then attended 
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Florida A & M University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he 
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received his bachelor's degree in 1966; in 1970, he earned his 
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master's degree from Southern Illinois University in 
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Carbondale; in 1974, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree 
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from the University of Iowa; and in 1985, he earned his Master 
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of Divinity degree from the Northern Baptist Theological 
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Seminary in Lombard; he later completed work for his Doctor of 
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Ministry degree; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II has had a long and 
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distinguished career in the ministry; he began his career on 
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May 14, 1967, when he was licensed to preach by the First 
 


 






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Baptist Church of Evergreen, Alabama; on March 1, 1970, he was 
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ordained by the Rockhill Baptist Church of Carbondale, where he 
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served as interim Pastor until 1971; he served as interim 
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Pastor at the Rock Hill Baptist Church in Carbondale for one 
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year and as Youth Pastor at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 
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in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for 4 years; in March of 1980, he 
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relocated to the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in 
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Phoenix, where he has remained ever since; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II is a former teacher in 
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the Georgia and Alabama public school systems; he was employed 
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as Professor of Composition at Governors State University for 
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24 years until his retirement in 1996; he was also employed as 
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an Adjunct Professor of Preaching at the Northern Baptist 
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Theological Seminary; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II is a member of the 
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Greater New Era District Association of Chicago and Vicinity, 
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and the Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Omega Psi Phi 
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Fraternities; he also serves as a staff writer for The Worker, 
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a missionary and educational quarterly, and Urban Ministry, a 
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Sunday School curriculum/commentary publication; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II is the founder of the New 
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Covenant Theological Institute and the New Covenant Christian 
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Academy and currently serves as Executive Director of the 
 


 






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organizations; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II has been the recipient of 
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numerous awards for outstanding community service and 
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leadership awards, including the Carter G. Woodson Award, the 
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State of Iowa Award for Composition, and the Clapp Memorial 
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Award for Composition; in 1984, he was voted Professor of the 
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Year at Governors State University; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II is married to his college 
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sweetheart, Barbara J. Pearson-McCreary M.D.; they are the 
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loving parents of 3 children, Angela D. McCreary-Raybon, Nicole 
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R. McCreary-Casmey, and Richard D. McCreary, III, and the proud 
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grandparents of 6 grandchildren; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Rev. Richard McCreary II serves as a model of hard 
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work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
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Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Reverend Richard D. McCreary II on the occasion of 
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his 30th anniversary as Pastor of the New Covenant Missionary 
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Baptist Church in Phoenix and wish him continued success and 
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happiness in the future; and be it further
  
 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Rev. Richard McCreary II as a symbol of our esteem 
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and respect.