HR0372 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0372 LRB096 12670 KXB 26260 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Reverend Dr. Leroy R. Henry II on his retirement as pastor of the Mary Magdalene Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Dr. L R. Henry has devoted fifty years toward the spiritual growth and nurturing of God's Kingdom; in 1956 he was called into the preaching ministry and was ordained on July 9, 1961, at St. Matthew Baptist Church by the late Pastor Reverend J. P. Gordon; and

WHEREAS, In 1962 Dr. Henry organized and began his Pastorate at the Mary Magdalene Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Henry's educational background began at The Chicago Baptist Institute, where he earned an Associate degree in Religion in 1979; he continued to study at the Chicago Baptist Institute, earning a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1980; in 1989 be received three prestigious Seven-Year Training diplomas from the Department of Christian Education of the Baptist Sunday School and Training Union Congress of the National Baptist Publishing Board; and he earned a Doctorate of Divinity degree from the Gospel Outreach Theological Institute of Houston, Texas, in 1996; and

WHEREAS, He has been a distinguished professor at the Chicago Baptist Institute for more than twenty years; first Vice-President of the Illinois Missionary Baptist Convention; Treasurer of the Illinois Missionary Baptist State Convention for seven years; First Vice-Moderator of the Northwood River Baptist District Association; a member of the Lifelink Housing Corporation's Board of Directors for more than eight years; and an outstanding President of the Baptist Ministerial Alliance of Chicago and Vicinity for six years; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Henry is especially proud of his lovely wife for fifty-four years, Dora, who has assisted him in nurturing their six children in God's way; all six of their children have earned college degrees; and they have nineteen grandchildren and five great-grand children; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Reverend Dr. Henry on his retirement and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Dr. Henry as a symbol of our respect.