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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Nicholas Santos "Nick"
4Hernandez-Renfro of Springfield, who passed away on July 9,
52023; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro was born in Springfield to
7Elmer C. and Linda Hernandez Renfro on August 24, 1986; he
8graduated from Ursuline Academy in 2004; in 2006, he joined
9the U.S. Army and served as a combat engineer; while deployed
10to Afghanistan, he received the Purple Heart for his heroic
11actions; he also served as the Modern Army Combatives
12instructor for the 832nd Engineer Company; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro earned his Bachelor of
14Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and a
15minor in Fire Science from Western Illinois University in
16Macomb in 2008, where he was a member of the rugby team; he
17married Tiffany Liebe on August 11, 2018; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro began his career in law
19enforcement in 2011; he served as a police officer for the
20Springfield Park District and later with the Springfield
21Police Department, where he worked as a field training
22officer, a SWAT operator, a firearms instructor, and as a

 

 

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1member of the Street Crimes Unit; he had a passion for coaching
2fellow officers in defensive tactics, locally and abroad; he
3shared his knowledge through podcasts and instructional videos
4in an effort to fill a training void; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro was the owner of Paladin
6Combatives, a premier self-defense training facility
7specializing in martial arts and combat fitness for adults and
8children; hands-on combatives was a passion of his; he was
9trained in the Gracie University Jiujitsu system; he was a
10Gracie Survival Tactics instructor, a S.P.E.A.R.(Spontaneous
11Protection Enabling Accelerated Response)instructor, and a
12former professional Mixed Martial Artist (MMA); in his own
13gym, he formed a junior MMA class to educate youth on not only
14the fundamentals of mixed martial arts but more importantly on
15how to deal with situations and scenarios involving bullying;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro lived to serve others and
18make a positive impact on their lives, no matter how big or
19small; he enjoyed participating in worthy causes, such as the
20annual Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics, taking children
21shopping for shoes or supplies to start the school year, and
22being a mentor to at-risk youth; his kindness, empathy,
23compassion, selflessness, and ability to connect with anyone
24is evident when looking at the number of lives on which he has

 

 

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1made a positive, lasting impact; he was a true leader because
2not only did he constantly seek knowledge but he also shared
3that knowledge with others to make everyone stronger; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro was a member of Destiny
5Church; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro was preceded in death by
7his infant daughter, Mira Bella Renfro, and his brother,
8Gerald "Jerry" Renfro; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Nick Hernandez-Renfro is survived by his wife,
10Tiffany; his parents; his sisters, Nicki Renfro, Nani
11Hernandez, Ericka A. (Julius) White, Bianca Hernandez-Renfro,
12Kristin (Anthony) Oden, and Ashleigh (Ethan) Meiburg; several
13aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; his
14father-in-love and mother-in-love, Bruce and Christie Liebe;
15and a number of close friends, including his military family,
16his mixed martial arts mentors, and his sisters and brothers
17in blue; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
20Nicholas Santos "Nick" Hernandez-Renfro and extend our sincere
21condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
22him; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Nick Hernandez-Renfro as an
3expression of our deepest sympathy.