HR1378 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1378 LRB096 23320 GRL 42675 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate John T. Hooker on the occasion of winning the Circle of Friends Award from the Chicago State University (CSU) Foundation in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the success of CSU students; and

WHEREAS, John Hooker was born on November 25, 1948, in Chicago; he grew up in Chicago's Lawndale community and attended Theodore Hertzel Elementary School, Hess Upper Grade Center, and Farragut High School; while at Hess, he was inspired by civil rights activist Al Raby and teacher Warner Sanders; after graduating from Farragut in 1966, he got married and was hired by Commonwealth Edison that same year; and

WHEREAS, John Hooker began his career at ComEd in the company mailroom, where he learned as much as possible about the company; he steadily ascended through the ranks, from clerk typist to time keeper to material clerk; by 1974, he was promoted to the position of human relations representative; in 1976, he began working in the marketing department, where he was promoted to director of marketing for Bolingbrook and the western suburbs in 1984; in 1987, he became the ComEd liaison to the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and the Chicago City Hall; in 1990, he earned his bachelor's degree from Chicago State University and helped found the Exelon African American Members Association (EAAMA); during this time, he served as area manager for ComEd in the western Chicago suburbs and director of external affairs; in 1995, he was named director of governmental affairs, which enabled him to influence the passage of the Illinois Consumer Choice Law of 1997; he was then promoted to vice president of property management for Exelon Energy Delivery; in 2000, he became an officer of ComEd; in 2004, he was appointed senior vice president of Commonwealth Edison; and

WHEREAS, John Hooker was a 1994 participant in Leadership Greater Chicago; he serves on several boards, including the Chicago State University Foundation, the Peoples Consumer Cooperative, the Safer Foundation, Junior Achievement, and the African American Initiative; he is a member of the American Association of Blacks in Energy and Chicago University's Business Hall of Fame Committee; he is also involved in the Chicago Public School's Youth Motivation program; and

WHEREAS, John Hooker and his loving wife, Kim, live in Chicago; the couple has 3 adult children; and

WHEREAS, John Hooker serves as a model 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-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate John T. Hooker on the occasion of winning the Circle of Friends Award and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

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