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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to congratulate Tony Perry on the
4 occasion of winning the 2009 "Good Neighbor" Business of the
5 Year Award from Illinois State Representative Lisa Dugan; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The "Good Neighbor" Business of the Year Award
7 highlights local businesses that exemplify community service
8 at its finest; the award is given to businesses that reach out
9 to provide additional benefits to the community, thus being
10 looked upon as a community partner and a good neighbor; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Tony Perry has been a resident of Kankakee since
12 1959, when he moved from Chicago Heights to develop
13 subdivisions and shopping centers on Kankakee's East Side; his
14 business has evolved over the years and he has become one of
15 Kankakee County's most active developers and passionate
16 community supporters; and
 
17     WHEREAS, In the 1980's, when Kankakee County faced severe
18 financial crisis with the closing of several major employers
19 during a national recession, Tony Perry became determined to
20 invest all of his energy into the rehabilitation of the
21 communities, which led to the creation of a not-for-profit
22 economic development organization, Area Jobs Development

 

 

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1 Association; the association ultimately helped create
2 thousands of jobs, secured tens of millions of dollars of
3 investment into the county, and was the impetus to the local
4 elected officials uniting on behalf of the entire county; he
5 also traveled throughout the nation and abroad looking for
6 commerce and industry to locate in the community and to spread
7 the word in the national real estate industry; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Tony Perry was the creator of Christmas in
9 April-Kankakee County, which started with 50 volunteers
10 rehabilitating 3 homes on one day in April; the project
11 ultimately rehabilitated over 500 homes, with participation by
12 a thousand volunteers, in later years; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Tony Perry was a co-founder of the Illinois
14 Ambassadors, an organization that led economic development
15 efforts in Illinois; he was also a past President of the
16 Kankakee Area Chamber of Commerce and a past President of the
17 Kankakee County Association of Realtors; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Tony Perry serves as counsel emeritus to Perry
19 Group, Ltd., a commercial real estate and development firm; he
20 is also a longtime Certified Commercial Investment Member and a
21 member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors; and
 
22     WHEREAS, In 2000, Tony Perry was honored for his community

 

 

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1 service through his induction into the State of Illinois
2 Department of Aging Hall of Fame; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Tony Perry and his wife of 53 years, Ellie, live
4 in Bourbonnais; together, they have five children and five
5 grandchildren; therefore, be it
 
6     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8 congratulate Tony Perry on the occasion of winning the 2009
9 "Good Neighbor" Business of the Year Award and wish him
10 continued success and happiness in the future; and be it
11 further
 
12     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13 presented to Tony Perry as a symbol of our esteem and respect.