HR1050 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1050 LRB098 20971 GRL 58627 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jesse L. Lewis, who passed away on April 13, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lewis attended the University of Maryland United States Army Satellite Campus; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lewis retired from the United States Army in June of 1998 after 23 years of service, having attained the rank of sergeant first class; he participated in the Gulf War, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and was stationed in Germany, South Korea, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Texas; following his service in the Army, he relocated back to Waukegan in 2008 with his wife; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lewis worked for the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County as a Program Coordinator and as an OSHA and National Safety County Work Zone Safety (flagger) Authorized Trainer for 3 years; during that time, he trained and certified over 200 students of the Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training Program and over 150 students within the Lake County community in OSHA-30 and work zone safety; he also trained and instructed 108 students for the Transportation Construction Apprenticeship Readiness Training, Referral and Intermodal Placement Program and served as a trainer/instructor for the Urban Weatherization Institution and the Freeport Housing Authority; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lewis served as President and CEO of Veteran Voices of Lake County, a non-profit organization to provide resources and networks for veterans seeking support services; he served as Vice President of Lewis Business Services and was a board member of This Little Light of Mine Early Learning Academy; he was also a member of the Armed Forces Benefits Association, the Disabled Army Veterans Association, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Lake County, the National Safety Council, and the OSHA Training Institute and was a passionate advocate for support services and benefits to veterans in Lake County; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Lewis is survived by his wife, Lydia Lewis, and his son, Dwayne Lewis; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of Jesse L. Lewis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Jesse Lewis as an expression of our sympathy.