HR0130 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0130 LRB098 11263 MST 42316 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor John Norman Brown of Park Forest on his many accomplishments in scouting and service to youth and the 63rd anniversary of his membership in the Order of the Arrow, scouting's National Honor Society; and

WHEREAS, John Brown grew up in West Woodlawn, a vibrant, predominantly African American neighborhood on Chicago's south side that included poet Gwendolyn Brooks, playwright Lorraine Hansberry, University of Iowa All-American football player Duke Slater, and the family of Emmett Till; and

WHEREAS, John Brown began his scouting career in 1945 when he joined Troop 1542 sponsored by Woodlawn African Methodist Episcopal Church; his first summer camp experience came in 1946 at Camp Belnap, a camp for African American Scouts at the Owasippe Scout Reservation, the Chicago council's camp on Lake Michigan; he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1949 and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow in 1950; he became a member of the Takodah Chapter that served the Douglas District, which comprised all African American units in the council; and

WHEREAS, John Brown entered the U.S. Army in 1953 and served as a Signal Corps intelligence specialist in Germany until 1955; he attended Rocky Moutain College in Billings, Montana, and then began his 32-year teaching career at Carter Elementary School on the south side of Chicago; he remained in scouting throughout this time; he sealed his Brotherhood membership in 1964, kept his Vigil in 1972, and was given the name "Tall Pine Tree"; he attended every national Order of the Arrow conference since 1965, having sung in the Brotherhood Chorus several times; he served as a national jamboree Order of the Arrow Service Corps Scoutmaster in 1973, 1981, and 1993; he was scoutmaster at the 1971 World Jamboree in Japan and served on the staff at world jamborees in Holland, England, and Sweden; and

WHEREAS, John Brown was honored with the Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award in 1994; he has also received the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope Awards and the Founder's Award from Michigamea Lodge serving northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana; and

WHEREAS, John Brown continues to devote time and energy to scouting; he worked on the National Scoutreach Committee from 1997 to 2009 and served as trainer at Philmont Training Center in Cimarron, New Mexico; he serves on the Calumet Executive Board and with Troop 120's committee sponsored by New Faith Baptist Church in Matteson, where he attends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor John Brown on his commitment to scouting and helping the youth of the State and we wish him well in all his future endeavours; and be it further

RESOLVED, That as suitable copy of this resolution be presented to John Brown as an expression of our esteem and respect.