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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of  
3Representatives are pleased to honor Shorty Mills for his many 
4accomplishments and thank him for his service to his community; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills was born Vincent Mills on February 
719, 1943, at the Illinois Research Hospital; his parents are 
8Ruby and Charles Mills; a fatal accident took the life of 
9Shorty's father when he was 3 years old; his mother then raised 
106 boys alone; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills is one of the most respected living 
12martial art instructors in the world; his martial arts career 
13began in 1956, at the age of 14; since that time, he has 
14amassed the following credentials: 10th Degree Black Belt in 
15Pagoda Ryu (1996); Founder of the Pagoda Ryu Martial Arts 
16System, which was tested and certified as a viable system of 
17martial arts in 1996 by the world Martial Arts Federation and 
18the Midwest United Martial Arts Association; 10th Degree Black 
19Belt in Shuri Ryu (1996); 10th Degree Black Belt in Moo Do Kwon 
20Tae Kwon Do (1993); 6th Degree Black Belt in Aikido from the 
21Yoshinkai System of Aikido (1985); 5th Degree Black Belt in 
22Kendo (1980); he is also a licensed airplane pilot (instrument 
23rated), a certified diver (multi-ratings), a licensed 
 
 
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1electrical engineer and electrical contractor, and a member of 
2the Rotary Club and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills attended and graduated from Chicago 
4Vocational High School; he subsequently earned his bachelor's 
5degree in electrical engineering from the Illinois Institute of 
6Technology in 1964, his master's degree in operations research 
7from Roosevelt University in 1982, his master's degree in urban 
8development/city planning from Northwestern University in 
91985, and his Ph.D. in martial science from the University of 
10Connecticut in 1995; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills joined the United States Navy in 
121964; in 1965, he was admitted into the United States Navy 
13Officers Candidate School; in 1968, he served in Vietnam for a 
14total of 26 months; after completing his two 13-month tours in 
15Vietnam, he was stationed aboard the USS Sylvania for a year; 
16he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1969; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills played professional basketball in 
18Italy in 1969 until an injury forced him to leave the game; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In 1986, Shorty Mills met the love of his life; in 
201995, he married Pamela Annette Mills; together, they have 2 
21beautiful daughters, Christina and Tiffanie; in 1997, Shorty 
22moved his family to Dynasty Lakes in Hazel Crest; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Shorty Mills' devotion to his art has extended 
2into volunteering for various community events; he has 
3developed self defense training programs for the Cook County 
4Sheriff's Court Services Department; he has developed and 
5taught rape prevention seminars for the Cook County Sheriff's 
6Department and the Chicago Police Department; he also helps 
7underprivileged children in becoming the best they can be 
8through his non-profit organization, Pagoda Ryu System; 
9therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
12we honor Shorty Mills for his many accomplishments and thank 
13him for his service to his community; and be it further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to Shorty Mills as a symbol of our esteem and 
16respect.