HR0013 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0013 LRB103 25642 MST 51991 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate John F. Penn on his retirement and commend him for his decades of service to the members of LiUNA!, his community, and his country; and

WHEREAS, John Penn joined Local 362 of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) in 1965 at the age of 16; and

WHEREAS, John Penn rose through the ranks of his union, serving Laborers as secretary-treasurer and business manager of LiUNA! Local 362 in McLean County; and

WHEREAS, Under John Penn's leadership, LiUNA! Local 362 grew significantly, giving a voice to scores of workers who previously had never benefited from union representation; and

WHEREAS, In response to several tragic accidents, John Penn stopped all highway construction in McLean County to force the State of Illinois to improve protections for vulnerable workers on the State's roadways, an effort that culminated in the creation of the State's Work Zone Safety Committee and implementation of numerous policies and actions that saved countless lives; and

WHEREAS, John Penn's role in representing LiUNA! members continually expanded, becoming business manager of the 36-county North Central Illinois Laborers' District Council, business manager of the four-state Great Plains Laborers' District Council, and, ultimately, vice president and regional manager of LiUNA!'s 10-state Midwest Region and a member of the international union's General Executive Board; and

WHEREAS, John Penn was a tireless advocate for his members during his 49 years of service, typically beginning his work several hours before the sun would rise; and

WHEREAS, In addition to John Penn's commitment to his members, he managed to volunteer his time, talents, and organizing skills to numerous projects and programs that improved not only the greater Bloomington-Normal area but all of Illinois, including the United Way of McLean County, the Children's Christmas Party for Unemployed Families, and the McLean County Promise Council; and

WHEREAS, John Penn has been a member of the Special Olympics Illinois Board of Directors and has recruited dozens of LiUNA! Local 362 members to volunteer at the Special Olympics State Games every year for more than 40 years; and

WHEREAS, John Penn is a proud veteran of the United States Air Force having served in South Korea, Vietnam, and Guam; and

WHEREAS, The issues faced by veterans of all branches of our nation's armed forces have long been a concern of John Penn and prompted him to establish the Midwest Region Veterans' Committee and encourage all LiUNA! local unions to create veterans' committees of their own; and

WHEREAS, John Penn was a 2022 inductee to the Illinois Labor History Society's Union Hall of Honor, was honored by the Bloomington Pantagraph as its 2003 Person of the Year, and received a Thousand Points of Light Foundation award from President Bill Clinton in 1997 on behalf of his volunteer efforts and those of all Bloomington-Normal building tradespeople; and

WHEREAS, John Penn has been a devoted husband of 55 years to his wife, Mary, a loving father to their daughter, Shawn, and doting grandfather of three and great-grandfather of five; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate John F. Penn on his retirement and commend him for his decades of service to the members of LiUNA!, his community, and his country; and be it further

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