HR0324 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0324 LRB101 12218 MST 59874 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in the lives of Illinois leaders; and

WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Peoria City Councilman At-Large Eric Turner is retiring after 24 years of elected municipal service to the City of Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner is a proud Peoria native, growing up in the Warner Homes on the south side of Peoria and attending high school at the historic Spalding Institute; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner is an U.S. Army veteran, having served in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967; he remains active in Peoria veteran's affairs activities and leads the coordination of Peoria's annual Memorial Day celebration at the Gateway Building on the Peoria Riverfront; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner received a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Illinois in 1982 and a master's degree in marketing from DePaul University in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner began his professional career at Caterpillar in 1968, where he worked in both the marketing and human resource departments; his most notable role was as marketing manager, where he was praised for his strategic and problem-solving abilities; he retired from Caterpillar in 2010 after 41 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner was first elected as an At-Large Peoria City Councilman in 1995 and was re-elected for five additional terms; as councilman, he demonstrated excellent leadership abilities and a strong passion for the improvement and growth of Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner attended the annual Regional Neighborhood Network Conference with a delegation of Peoria neighborhood leaders, and he played the leading role in hosting the 2014 RNNC event in Peoria; his neighborhood dedication has been commemorated with a City of Peoria neighborhood award named in his honor; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner helped launched the East Bluff Rebound basketball program in 2009, where he served as referee, scorekeeper, and chief motivator for young adults in East Bluff; his leadership skills and dedication helped to create the East Bluff Community Center at Saint Bernard's School; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner has held monthly early-morning breakfast chats with neighborhood leaders in room 112 at City Hall, and he is respected by volunteers and neighborhood organizers throughout Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Councilman Turner has served as deputy mayor, Peoria Liquor Commissioner, and council liaison to numerous civic organizations; he is the most tenured member on the City Council and has been firmly committed to his constituents; he has dedicated his public service career to the protection of neighborhoods and the promotion of economic development; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend Eric Turner for 24 years of public service on the Peoria City Council and offer best wishes for a well-deserved retirement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Councilman Turner as a symbol of our respect and esteem.