HR0816 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0816 LRB101 21003 MST 71124 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Pastor Richard D. McCreary II, Ph.D. on the 40th anniversary of being installed as the pastor of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Phoenix, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McCreary was born in Evergreen, Alabama to Leodia P. and Richard D. McCreary Sr. on May 14, 1967; he was ordained on March 1, 1970 at the Rockhill Baptist Church in Carbondale, where he served as interim pastor until 1971; in 1980, he became senior pastor of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church after serving for seven years as associate pastor; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McCreary was formerly a teacher in the public school systems of Georgia and Alabama; for 24 years, he was employed as a professor of composition at Governors State University in University Park, where he was voted Professor of the Year in 1984; he retired in 1996; he was also employed as an adjunct professor of preaching at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McCreary has been the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding community service and leadership; he was the winner of the State of Iowa Award for Composition and the Clapp Memorial Award for Composition; most recently, he was bestowed with The Carter G. Woodson Award and the Worker Award; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McCreary has a Bachelor of Science from Florida A&M University, a Master of Arts from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Divinity from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Iowa; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McCreary is a member of the Greater New Era District Association of Chicago and Vicinity and the Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Psi, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternities; he was a staff writer for The Worker; he is the founder of the New Covenant Christian Academy and currently serves as the executive director; he is also the founder of the New Covenant Theological Institute; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McCreary is married to his college sweetheart, Barbara J. Pearson-McCreary M.D.; the McCreary's are the parents of Angela D. McCreary-Raybon, Nicole R. McCreary-Casmey, and Richard D. McCreary III and the proud grandparents of seven beautiful grandchildren and one great-grandchild; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Pastor Richard D. McCreary II, Ph.D. on the 40th anniversary of being installed as the pastor of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Phoenix, Illinois, and we wish him many more wonderful years; and be it further

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