HR0626 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0626 LRB096 14661 KXB 29504 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the 2009 inductees into the Jefferson County Senior Saints Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Lillie Florence was born August 28, 1928, the 12th child of 13 born to Alva Jake and Bessie Beal in Jefferson County; she married Harry E. Arnett, her one and only true love, on July 20, 1946, and they had six children, ten grandchildren, and so far thirteen great-grandchildren; her first job was at Woolworth and she later worked at Cummings Orchard, Dix General Store, and Field Grade School; during her children's school years she was involved in Field school PTA, 4-H, and home extension; she served as a Field Township Trustee for 16 years, and an Election judge for 20 years; she has also helped out with many fundraisers and has participated in the Jefferson County Relay for Life; she was head cook for the King City Saddle Club for many years, and was a member of the Dixico Ruritian Club; the King City Saddle Club presented Lillie with a silver platter for her many years of service; Lillie's hobbies include quilting, gardening, embroidery, and cooking; a good life saying for Lillie is "When life serves you lemons, make lemonade"; and

WHEREAS, Donald Bigham was born in Mt. Vernon on December 6, 1937, to Randal and Loraine Bigham; he has two younger sisters, Kaye and Connie; his family attended church at 2nd Baptist and he went to Edison Grade School; in 1953 he went to Mt. Vernon High School, where he enjoyed school, worked behind the stage in the school plays, and served as helper, earning his high school service letter; he also met his wife, Donna K. Sigwerth; he graduated in 1956 and was employed by Western Electric Company; he traveled around the area working in telephone offices; after Donna graduated from high school they were married; soon their family grew and they had three little girls and relocated back to Mt. Vernon; he sold insurance for Mutual of Omaha and then went to adjusting for another company; the family moved to Rockford, where he again changed positions and started work for the J.C. Penny Company; he was later promoted to a district position in Chicago and from there to Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he had several great years there, and became interested in firefighting and EMS services; he trained and qualified as an EMT and a volunteer firefighter; after 10 years working with the J.C. Penny Company, he was offered an early retirement and the family moved back to Mt. Vernon and joined the Park Avenue Baptist Church; he became a mission service corps volunteer and started building the local disaster relief services; he became a member of the LEPC group and the Jefferson County Iraqi Warriors, supporting the troops; he applied for chaplain training and was approved to serve as an on-call Chaplain for both Crossroads Community Hospital and St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital; he still enjoys his work in the community, church, and disaster relief services; and

WHEREAS, Pat Davis was born July 13, 1932 in Nashville, Tennessee, to Allan and Aline Quinn; she has 3 sisters and a brother; her family later moved to High Point, North Carolina, and eventually to Mt. Vernon; she attended Mt. Vernon High School, where she enjoyed basketball and baseball; she later left school, as many people did at the time, to work at Murphy's 5-and-10-cent store, being paid $5-6 dollars per week, and worked there for 8 years; she met Marvin Davis when she was 16; they dated a year and a half before getting married on June 18, 1949, and have enjoyed marital bliss for 60 years; they have 5 children, Rhonda (deceased), Allen, Marla, Jeri, and Marty and are the proud grandparents of 13 grandchildren (1 deceased) and 10 great-grandchildren; her and her husband worked side-by-side for 34 years as owners of Davis Service, a gas station and auto repair shop; she volunteered for years at the AmVets and Rend Lake's Wayne Fitzgerald State Park and is currently with Kids Hope United's Foster Grandparent program; through the Foster Grandparent Program, she has volunteered at Bethel and McClellan schools and is currently helping at Angel's Cove; she is a lifetime member at AmVets and is active in Crossroad's Senior Circle and in the Senior Circle Stitchers; the Davis door has always been open to those in need, whether it be family or friends; she cherishes all contact she has with children, whether they are little or big, so much that she always has a pocketful of Tootsie rolls and mints; her motto is "Kid's are the spice of life, and I love spice!"; and

WHEREAS, Paul Dickerson was born April 1, 1926, on a small farm a mile north of Bridgeport; he was the second of five children to John and Marie Dickerson; his family then moved to Lawrenceville; during his junior year of high school, America joined World War II and soon after, he quit school and enlisted in the United States Navy; he was eventually sent overseas and honorably discharged less than two years later; he then signed up for college on the G.I. Bill and assigned to major in Business Administration; Mary was born in Cairo, to Joe and Elois Flamm, the second of two daughters; she went to St. Patrick's Catholic School and then Cairo Public High School; she was active in school plays in high school and was the student radio reporter for the school; her senior year she was chosen by the Daughter's Of the American Revolution for The Good Citizenship Award; Mary was also a member of the Girl Scouts throughout the 10th grade; she worked at a local movie theater and then later a ladies ready-to-wear store; after graduating high school she went to Carbondale to Southern Illinois University; Paul and Mary met while Mary was in Lawrenceville visiting a former neighbor who was the librarian at Paul's high school; they then met again at a Catholic Youth Group and the Newman Club at college; they were married November 26, 1949, and had seven children; they moved to Mt. Vernon in 1953 and are blessed with 16 grandchildren; since then, Paul has been an Exploring Scout Master of Post 101; in 1968, he was chosen as Father of the Year by the King City Retailers; he was a member of the Lion's Club, the Rotary West, and served on the Good Samaritan Hospital's Board of Associates; as a member of the Good Samaritan's Auxiliary, Paul served as president for two terms and accrued over 1500 volunteer hours; he was elected to the County Board and served 12 years; in 1984, he was the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year; Mary was a stay-at-home mom until their youngest child was three; she then enrolled in RN school at Kaskaskia College in 1972; she graduated in 1974 and started working in the ICU at Good Samaritan Hospital; in 1975 Mary transferred to the Home Health Department and continued night studies toward a Bachelors Degree in Nursing; in 1977 she was promoted from Staff Nurse to Assistant Director of Good Samaritan's Home Health Department; in 1984 she was the Business and Professional Woman's Club Woman of the Year; she also served on the Advisory Council for Senior Citizens in Jefferson County, on the Board of Comprehensive Services of Jefferson County, and was a member of the Jefferson County Diabetic Board; Mary is presently serving on the board of SSM Hospice and Home Health Care Foundation; Paul and Mary are members of St. Mary's Church and are very active in all its activities; faith is a very important part of their lives, as is their family; and

WHEREAS, Bern Dickneite is the oldest child of Ben and Frances Dickneite, born on June 9, 1942; he was later joined by five siblings, two sisters, and three brothers; he grew up in St. Louis South County, Missouri; after completion of 12 years of parochial education he entered the military and while serving on active duty from 1960 to 1964 earned the rank of Cpl E-4; he was honorably discharged in 1966; he then became employed in retail and construction, and with the help of the GI Bill entered college, earning a B.S. Degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting; in 1963 he met a young college student, Diana J. Summa, who on January 21, 1967 became Mrs. Diana J. Dickneite; they have two children, Bernard "Brad" Dickneite and Andrea Barrett, and have seven grandchildren; upon graduating from the University of Missouri, he was employed by Haskin & Sells, CPA firm, and then later was employed by the National Dealers of Farm Equipment Association as manager of Data Control; in August of 1980 they moved to Mt. Vernon to open a Bicycle Fitness Center; he retired in 2007; he is active in bicycling in organized charity rides, and is presently a board member of Mt. Vernon Tourism and Convention and the American Red Cross; he also helps in the Relay for Life, Southern Illinois Trails System, Veteran City Park, Neighborhood Crime Watch, Jefferson County Crime Stoppers, Kiwanis Club of Mt. Vernon, and the Jefferson County Operation Iraqi Freedom Committee; he helps in Habitat for Humanity and has worked with Group Workcamp mission in Mt. Vernon; and he attends church regularly at the First Presbyterian Church; and

WHEREAS, Joan Mandrell was born and raised in Ashley; she worked at the local telephone company during her high school years; in June of 1952 she married Harry "Jack" Mandrell and they moved to Mt. Vernon; her first job in Mt. Vernon was at Jefferson Loan; she then went to Commercial Credit and from there to Doctor's Park; once her family was grown she worked at the Mt. Vernon Post Office as a rural carrier and later retired; during her many years of employment, there were several intervals that she became a stay-at-home mom to her five children, Steve, Sherry, Scott, Stan, and Sue; she is the proud grandmother of eleven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and another due in January of 2010; she and her husband, Jack, built their home on his family farm and joined the West Long Prairie Christian church, where she is still an active member; in March of 2001 Jack suffered a severe burn accident; he spent a year in the hospital and the Lord called him home in November of 2005; and

WHEREAS, Pauline Moore was born on August 9, 1912, on the Triple Oak Farm in rural Jefferson County; she is one of seven children born to Walter and Mary Waite; she married Lee Moore in 1936 and they had three children; she was a homemaker until her children were grown and then she worked in the Mt. Vernon High School cafeteria and drove a school bus; Pauline is a charter member of the South Side Baptist Church, where she attends regularly and is an active participant in the church’s activities; she is also a 40-year member of the V.F.W., and in the past has been an office holder; she has also been an active member in AARP and the Sunshine Center; in April of 2005, the Jefferson County Democrats awarded Pauline with the John F. Kennedy award for her many years of dedication and support to the Democratic Party; she has been very active in the Grass Roots Organization and also served as an election judge for many years; Pauline has also delivered meals to those in need in her area on foot; she continues to serve as a poll watcher in local, State, and national elections and is relied upon in her precinct for her honesty and integrity; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Lorraine Page was born in Mt. Vernon on December 4, 1924, to Clarence and Ella Nolta; she lived on College Street and still lives in the very same house in which she was born; she attended Field School, Casey Jr. High, and then Mt. Vernon High School, graduating in 1943; Beverly married Clive Elwood Page and had two children, Richard and Vikki; they have 5 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; Beverly has been a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader and has also been a leader of the TOPS Club (Take Off Pounds Sensibly); rising to the challenge, she became the Queen, losing 75 pounds in one of her eight years there; she is a devout Christian; she has been Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, youth fellowship leader, and United Methodist Woman's President; she worked at District 80 Schools as a cook, and for 17 years she worked at the bakery in IGA, later retiring in 1985; for the past 8 years, Beverly has volunteered her time at Crossroads Hospital; she has been the president and vice president of the volunteer workers and presently works in the bazaar, book, and bake sales; in the past years she has been nominated as Volunteer of the Year for her service and dedication; Beverly is proud of a great accomplishment she has earned this year, a 4,000-hour pin; in her spare time Beverly enjoys reading the Bible, spending time with family, and working on puzzles of any kind and is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan; she believes that all of the things she has done and accomplished in her life have been possible because God has given her the ability and health to do what she does; and

WHEREAS, Michael Poninski was born in Pinckneyville, on June 21, 1941; later his family moved to Central City, where he began his schooling; he then attended and graduated from Centralia High School; he attended Kaskaskia College for one semester before he went to the Army Artillery for 6 months; then 5 1/2 years of active Reserves; Mike worked at McDonald Aircraft in St. Louis when he met his wife Sue in 1961; they were married on February 16, 1963 and moved to Woodlawn, where Mike started work at the Illinois Central Car Shop, the CB&Q, and the Burlington Northern Railway until retirement in July of 2001; Mike and Sue are the parents of Tim and Anita and are the grandparents of 7; in 1971 Woodlawn did not have a Fire Department and Mike was instrumental in establishing the Fire Department and helped raise funds to purchase the first Fire Truck in 1972; Mike has been a fireman for 37 years and Fire Chief since 1993 for 16 years; he has also spent 14 years on the Woodlawn Grade School Board, 30 years on the Woodlawn Christian Church Board, 3 years on the Woodlawn Village Board, and 14 years as a Woodlawn Little League Coach; in 2004, Mike began a new challenge when he was diagnosed with cancer; he was diagnosed again in 2007; his tests have now come back clear and he continues to serve as the Woodlawn Fire Chief; and

WHEREAS, Lillian Ruth McKitrick Scott was born on March 3, 1925 to Jewell and Corine McKirtrick, in Wayne County; she was the third oldest of five children, and attended a one-room elementary school and graduated with honors from Wayne City High School in 1943; while in high school, she served as president of the Girls' Athletic Association, as well as Editor-in-Chief of the school yearbook; in 1947, she married Loren Dale Scott and they were married for 39 years when Loren passed away in December of 1986; early in their marriage, employment opportunities took them to Cairo and then to Mt. Vernon; in 1956, Loren and Lillian were blessed with a daughter, Lisa; in the 1960s Lillian and Loren joined First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon; in 1961, Lillian began to fulfill her life long dream of returning to college and earning a degree; when she finally stopped taking classes in 1980, she had not only earned an Associates of Arts Degree from Mt. Vernon Community College, but also a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and a Master of Science Degree in Special Education; she was recognized on Honors day at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale with a Superior Scholastic Achievement Award; in 1974, Lillian joined the staff at Mt. Vernon Township High School as a Special Education instructor and retired in 1993; Lillian is a member of both Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Lambda Theta, honor fraternities for professional educators; she is also a member of the Association for Retarded Citizens; even though she has received many academic and professional honors, Lillian is most proud of her letters from Eunice Kennedy Shriver on completing Special Olympics Training School; she often chaperoned students on weekends and in the summer to other cities so that they could compete as Special Olympic Athletes; currently she volunteers at Angels on Assignment, and is a 50-year member of the Eastern Star; in addition to her being recognized as a Senior Saint, Lillian has also recently been nominated as this year's Illinois Retired Teachers Jefferson County Honoree; and

WHEREAS, Beverly Walker was born in Akin on February 15, 1938; she was the oldest of six siblings to Roger and Katherine Neal; her family moved to Mt. Vernon when she was three; Beverly attended Edison Grade School, Casey Junior High, and Mt. Vernon High School and graduated in 1956; two weeks after graduating, Beverly married Gale Galloway and had six daughters in a span of ten years; Gale was a Baptist Minister and Beverly served alongside him in churches throughout Indiana, Missouri, and Texas; after twelve years of marriage Gale left Beverly; she then started on the journey of rearing their daughters alone; Beverly enrolled in secretarial courses and earned her Executive Secretarial Diploma from Business College in Nacogdoches, Texas; she was interviewed by several federal government agencies and was hired in December of 1970 by the Internal Revenue Service as a clerk typist and worked her way up to a supervisory position as the Representative for the agency; after a number of years as a single person, she married Jesse Walker in Oklahoma and he passed away in 1996; Beverly retired in 2005 but has kept busy volunteering her time and services to helping others; in 2004-2005, she was the president of the local Business and Professional Women and was Director and Regional Director for three groups in Southern Illinois; for four years she has worked with a group of women helping to build homes; Habitat for Humanity in the Alton area has been blessed with four homes built for the most part by women; Beverly is presently a Facilitator for the Delilah Jones Women on Missions group at Park Avenue Baptist Church; she plans to travel in the near future with friends and involve herself in volunteering to serve where needed; everyday when she opens her eyes, she thanks God for another day and seeks His plans for her and the new day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the 2009 inductees into the Jefferson County Senior Saints Hall of Fame and wish them all success in their future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the 2009 inductees into the Jefferson County Senior Saints Hall of Fame as symbols of our respect and esteem.