HR1292 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1292 LRB098 22977 GRL 61937 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Leon Conner, who passed away on October 5, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner was born on August 26, 1918 in Carthage, Texas; his parents were Marvin and Selma Thomas Conner; he married Odie Marie Leary on April 24, 1942 in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner grew up on small farmhouse, where he was taught at an early age the importance of faith, family values, and education which he carried throughout his life; after graduating from high school, he moved to Chicago; in 1941, he settled in Maywood; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner was drafted into the United States Army in August of 1942 during World War II; during his military career, he served as a First Sergeant and was responsible for training over 120 soldiers under his command while serving in Texas; after his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to Maywood to be with his family; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner was employed as a machinist at Commonwealth Edison, where he retired after 43 years of service; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner was very involved with the Maywood Village Board and local government organizations; he also worked with a host of community activists, politicians, and volunteer groups and donated to various charities and non-profit organizations; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner was an organizing member of the Maywood branch of the NAACP, the Maywood Bataan Committee, the Maywood Zoning Committee, and American Legion Emanuel L. Young Post 838; he also served as Treasurer of the Christian Action Ministry, committeeman for the Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action, and co-founder of the Home and Neighborhood Defenders Society with his son, former Mayor Ralph Conner; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner was a huge car enthusiast and enjoyed restoring old cars, listening to music, and reading classical and historical books; he also enjoyed traveling the country in his RV with his family; and

WHEREAS, As a child, Leon Conner attended Mt. Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; he and his wife later joined Canaan African Methodist Episcopal Church and worshiped there for many years under Reverend Higgenbotham and Reverend J.W. James; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner was preceded in death by his parents; 2 siblings, Inez Jones and Herese Bowman; his wife, Odie Marie; and 3 children, Thomas Earl, Ralph Wesley and Alva Cheryl; and

WHEREAS, Leon Conner is survived by 3 daughters, Joy, Marilyn, and Melody; a sibling, Vater Fite; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; 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 Leon Conner; and be it further

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