HR1270 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1270 LRB094 20451 HSS 58659 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of this Body are honored to recognize significant milestones in the lives of the people of this State; and

WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that Senobio Nila of Aurora is celebrating the 105th anniversary of his birth; and

WHEREAS, Senobio Nila was born on May 4, 1901, on a little ranch called "El Pedregoso" in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, to Miguel and Dorotea, who worked for the Spanish Governor of Guanajuato as servants; and

WHEREAS, Senobio first came to the U.S. in 1918 at the age of seventeen; he went to Louisiana looking for work, then on to Georgia, then to Tennessee, and then to Kentucky; he did whatever kind of work he could find; and

WHEREAS, During a time when he had returned to Mexico, Senobio fell in love with Santiaga, called Chaga; Santiaga was born to Nestor and Juana Hernandez on July 29, 1901, in a little village by the name of Los Sapos, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico; they were married sometime around February of 1923; and

WHEREAS, Senobio and Santiago later came to the U.S. together with other family members; Senobio found a job with the Burlington Railroad at the Reclamation Plant in Eola, separating parts of trains; the company provided homes for Senobio and his family by repairing and insulating box cars; they gave them blankets, water, coal, coal stoves, and beds, and everything was provided rent-free; the community in the box cars was called "El Campo" (the Camp); and

WHEREAS, Senobio worked with Burlington Railroad through the Great Depression, never losing a day of work; he retired from the railroad in 1968 after 45 years; and

WHEREAS, At "El Campo", everyone knew each other; it was like a small community; they had their own Church and Father Valadez came from Chicago to say Mass on Sundays; the community even had its own band; and

WHEREAS, Senobio and his family lived at "El Campo" until 1936, when the box cars were torn down and Senobio moved his family into his current home at 1611 Indian Avenue; and

WHEREAS, Senobio and his family came to the U.S. because of the civil unrest in Mexico and to find work; they came to find a better life for themselves and their families; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Senobio Nila on the occasion of his 105th birthday, and we extend to him our sincere best wishes for the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Senobio Nila as an expression of our respect and esteem.