SR0663 LRB094 19779 LCT 56519 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to express
3 their sincere condolences to the family and friends of John H.
4 Allen of Joliet, who passed away on February 14, 2006; and
 
5     WHEREAS, John Allen was born on July 26, 1934, in Chicago;
6 he was the first son and fifth child of eight children born to
7 the late Rev. John H. and Frances (Adam) Allen; he grew up in
8 Chicago's South Side and was educated in the Chicago Public
9 Schools; in 1959, he attended Crane Jr. College for one year;
10 he later attended Joliet Jr. College, completing courses in
11 real estate and tax preparation in 1969; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Mr. Allen graduated from the United States Army
13 Command General Staff College and joined the United States Army
14 on August 13, 1952; after 2 years of active service, he joined
15 the Army Reserves and later the Illinois National Guard; he
16 then went to officer candidate school and was commissioned as a
17 Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, serving a total of
18 31 years before retiring with the rank of Major in 1983; and
 
19     WHEREAS, On August 23, 1952, Mr. Allen married his
20 childhood sweetheart, Ruth M. Dixon; from that 37-year union
21 came his three lovely daughters, Francine, Doris, and Arlene;
22 and
 
23     WHEREAS, Mr. Allen loved his family and worked tirelessly
24 to provide a comfortable life for them; in May of 1956, he
25 began working for the United States Postal Service; he also
26 worked for Theba Foster Agency preparing taxes on a part-time
27 basis; in 1973, he passed the State of Illinois Real Estate
28 Broker License Exam and worked for the agency until 1977; and
29 in 1980, he opened his home office for business; and
 
30     WHEREAS, Mr. Allen was also active in his community; from

 

 

SR0663 - 2 - LRB094 19779 LCT 56519 r

1 1964 until 1966, he served as the Secretary of the Forest Park
2 Improvement Association; in 1974, he was elected by the
3 community to serve as a Representative on the Joliet Community
4 Action Agency (CAP); and he was a member of many clubs and
5 associations including the American Legion Post 1080 and the
6 Old Timers Baseball Association; and
 
7     WHEREAS, John Allen's political career began in 1975; he
8 was a candidate for City Councilman, district four in 1975,
9 1983, 1987, and 1991; in November of 1987, he was elected to
10 the Joliet Township Board of Trustees, where he served two
11 complete terms; and
 
12     WHEREAS, John married Geraldine B. Ross on June 23, 1990;
13 together, they enjoyed many outings, including their most
14 recent trip to Hawaii in 2005; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Mr. Allen was preceded in death by his brothers,
16 Hobart and Otis Allen; his sisters, Mary Toliver and Beulah
17 Howard; and his wife, Ruth who died April 15, 1989; and
 
18     WHEREAS, The passing of John H. Allen will be felt by all
19 who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Geraldine (Geri)
20 Allen; his daughters, Francine Allen, Doris Allen, and Arlene
21 Dougherty; his sisters, Lottie Hooks, Johnnie M. Wilson, and
22 Ethel (Wade) Williams; his grandchildren, Calesia, Kenya,
23 Aaron, Kadrienne (K.K.), Kevin, Keonna, and Je'Von; his
24 great-grandchildren; and a host of special nieces and nephews,
25 great-nieces and nephews, and relatives and beloved friends;
26 therefore, be it
 
27     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL
28 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
29 all who knew and loved him, the death of John H. Allen; and be
30 it further
 

 

 

SR0663 - 3 - LRB094 19779 LCT 56519 r

1     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to the family of John H. Allen with our sincere
3 condolences.