HR1524 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1524 LRB095 22512 GRL 52895 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Jefferson County recipients of the 2008 Senior Saints Hall of Fame Honors on the occasion of their accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, Ernest Collins is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a former Illinois State Trooper, and a volunteer fire fighter; he has donated much of his time and effort to volunteering for various civic organizations; he has assisted in coaching sports while his sons were growing up and has continued with his oldest grandson; he has served as a player coach on the church league softball team; he teaches the effects of alcohol while driving to teenagers in Jefferson, Hamilton, and Franklin Counties and teaches programs on the American flag; he is a board member of the Epilepsy Foundation, Hickory Shadow Zoo, and the Smith Cemetery Association; he is a member of the Senior Advisory Council, delivers Meals on Wheels, serves as a deacon at Meadowbrook Christian Church, and serves as president of the local chapter for the Experimental Aircraft Association; he is a member of the American Legion's Honor Guard and is an Honor Guard Chaplain on the Operation Iraqi Freedom committee; he is also a Cadet Commander for the Civil Air Patrol and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Moose, and Amvets; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Colonel R.D. White volunteered for the military of July of 1942, where was deployed in the Pacific theatre; he later served during the Korean War and in the Vietnam War until his retirement in 1970; he has served his community as a deacon of his church and in assisting in the building of the church's new building, he was instrumental in organizing the local EAA chapter and in promoting the Young Eagle Program to help youths in his community; and

WHEREAS, Ronald and Phyllis Adcock were married on July 14, 1956; are well known in their community for their charitable works; Ronald is a former employee of the Mt. Vernon Public Works Department and the Mt. Vernon Fire Department and currently keeps busy with several different positions; Phyllis is a former employee of the Livingston Drug Store and the E.F. Wielt Company; she serves as the Chairman of the Mother March of Dimes; she and her husband are members of the Red Cross Disaster Team, are regular blood donors, donate care packages to soldiers, deliver Christmas baskets to the needy, and are certified Lane Inspectors, coaches and instructors; Ronald and Phyllis are also accomplished bowlers and have both received many awards and accolades for their bowling prowess; and

WHEREAS, Harold and Barbara Lemons were married on February 16, 1957 in Mt. Vernon; Harold is a U.S. Army veteran, having served at various posts in the United States and Germany until his honorable discharge after 18 1/2 years of service; Harold and Barbara have been members of the Summersville Baptist Church for over 30 years and have been able to serve their community through gathering school supplies, sending boxes to soldiers in Iraq and boxes of toys and hygienic items to children in Mexico, serving food at the food pantry, driving the church van to deliver items and shuttle people to doctor's appointments, making wooden crafts, cooking and washing dishes, and making quilts and lap robes for the needy; Harold and Barbara are also involved with Relay for Life, an important event for their whole family due to family members stricken by cancer; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Ruthven Neff has served as a pastor for over 65 years, having served over 18 different congregations during his lifetime; he has also devoted great time and effort to helping children; he has served as a Scoutmaster in Stanford, Illinois and Logansport, Indiana; he has developed many different sports teams and an All Girls Choir in his pastoral career; he has also helped build two parsonages, two gyms, and five church buildings, all thanks to the carpentry skills taught to him by his father; he has been married to Edna Louise Catron since August 20, 1977; and

WHEREAS, Betty Hayes was employed with the Jefferson County ASCS for thirty years, working with farmers, measuring farm land, and helping them grow their crops; after retiring, she still wanted to help others, so she decided to help working mothers with watching their children; she is an active member of her church, where she currently serves as chairperson of the church council board, President of Wesley United Methodist, Representative for education, worship, stewardship, and Cluster Representative; she helps with the Lenton Service during Lent, walks for Crop Walk, Ice Cream Socials, and is head of the kitchen during funeral dinners, among many other volunteer duties; she is the recipient of the Mother of the Years Award in 1985 and the Do Award in 2005 in recognition of her many accomplishments; she and her husband, Bob, have been married for 66 years; and

WHEREAS, Bennie Melton went into the Marine Corps as a gunner and torpedoed Bombay in the South Pacific; he came home in 1946 as a 32nd Degree Mason and worked in the oil fields; he later helped build trucks and became a civil engineer; in 1958, Bennie worked for a truck line and worked for almost every oil company in the U.S.; he retired in 1985 and bought the Beasley Motel Rest and Lounge, which he sold on contract in 1995; he is an antique car collector and a respected member of Old Timer Car Club of Mt. Vernon; he is a member of the Shriners, V.F.W., and is a former member of Amvets and American Legion; he has always tried to help others and has driven Senior Saints in the Sweetcorn Watermelon parade for several years of his life; and

WHEREAS, John Howard has been employed at the Howard & Casey Company, the Pressed Steel Car Company, the Security Bank & Trust Company, and the Equitable Life Assurance Society; he previously served as a City Councilman for the City of Mt. Vernon and as a member and president of Mt. Vernon City Schools District 80 Board of Education; he also served as treasurer and member of the Executive Board of the Illinois State Historical Society and Distinguished Alumnus of Mt. Vernon Township High School; he is a member and past president of the Jefferson County Historical Society, docent at the Historical Village, and has participated in the Jefferson County Chamber, United Way, American Red Cross, and adult literacy programs, among other civic activities; he has been a past president and fifty year member of the Mt. Vernon Rotary Club, a past president and fifty year trustee of the Mt. Vernon Oakwood Cemetery, and treasurer/financial secretary and fifty year member of the First Baptist Church; he was the recipient of the Illinois Humanities Council Studes Terkel Humanities Service Award in honor of his work; he has been married to Ann Warner since 1951; and

WHEREAS, Donald Colwell graduated from Webber Township High School in 1950 and was president of his class; he received a full basketball scholarship to the Virginia Military Institute; after graduating from college in 1954, Donald went into the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant; upon returning to Bluford in 1957, he asked to teach and coach at Webber Township High School; after telling them he would try it for a year, the one year turned into forty-nine; Donald and his wife attend church, ball games, and all school functions; they have also served as scout leaders, little league coaches, and Sunday School teachers; Donald currently serves as church treasurer; in 1997, Donald was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in recognition of his work; and

WHEREAS, Donna C. Peacock opened a TV repair shop with her husband, Bill, in Ziegler in 1957; after moving with her family to Mt. Vernon in 1969, they joined the East Salem Baptist Church, where Donna taught Sunday School; she also served as treasurer and president of the PTA; she joined the Mt. Vernon Business & Professional Women in 1985 while working as an office manager at the local Ramada Hotel; as a member of the Mt. Vernon Business & Professional Women, she has served as Secretary, Treasurer, President, Photographer, PR Chair, and publisher of "The Gazette"; after learning that Bill has Parkinson's disease in 1974, she and Bill became advocates against the disease, starting a Parkinson's Disease Support Group at Green Tree Assisted Living for Seniors and sending out newsletters; Donna and Bill are currently members of Park Avenue Baptist Church, where she serves as an assistant teacher for "Joy Sunday School Class" and as official photographer for new members, as well as attending WOM meetings and events; and

WHEREAS, These fine ladies and gentlemen serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Jefferson County recipients of the 2008 Senior Saints Hall of Fame Honors on the occasion of their accomplishments and wish them continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Jefferson County recipients of the 2008 Senior Saints Hall of Fame Honors as a symbol of our esteem and respect.