HR1088 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1088 LRB095 20236 GRL 46987 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement as pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Kankakee; and

WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. was born in Winn Parish, Louisiana; after completing high school in Louisiana, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri Western University in St. Joseph, Missouri; he also attended National College in Kansas City, Missouri, and the University of Missouri at Kansas City; he received theological training from Western Baptist College, Kansas City National Baptist, and William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri; he holds an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Morris College and McKinley Theological Seminary; and

WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. was called to pastor Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in 1971; under his leadership, the church erected a half-million dollar edifice in 1976, with the mortgage being fully satisfied in 1986; the church then purchased and renovated what now serves as the Morning Star Community Center for $300,000; additionally, the ministries of Morning Star have grown tremendously, and the church is currently recognized as a positive and influential social and political icon in the Kankakeeland community; and

WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. is active in many civic and community organizations; he has served as president of the Kankakee branch of the NAACP and served as president of the Northeastside Ministerial Alliance; he is a member of the Kankakee Interfaith Clergy and the Young Men's Christian Association; and

WHEREAS, Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. has been the recipient of numerous awards; he received the Ebony Esteem Award for "Man of the Year" and "Most Outstanding Man in Religion" for Kankakee County in August of 1975; he was named "Minister of the Year" by the Midwestern Illinois Laymen's Fellowship; he has also been the recipient of an Illinois State Police Community Service Award, a Kankakee Law Enforcement Award, the NAACP President's Award for Outstanding Community Service, the Dr. Martin Luther King Award from the City of Miami, Florida, and Keys to the City of both Miami, Florida and Kankakee; and

WHEREAS, A banquet will be held for Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. on Saturday, April 19, 2008 in honor of his great contributions to the people of the Kankakee area; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend William H. Copeland, Jr. as an expression of our esteem.