SR1951 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1951 LRB099 22094 GRL 49420 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are pleased to pay respect to the J.P. "Cotton" Knox family of Sangamon County for their service to our nation; and

WHEREAS, The J.P. Knox family began with the birth of J.P. "Cotton" Knox on November 16, 1880 in Sangamon County; in 1907, he married Esther Loretta Dickerson, also of Sangamon County; together they lived on and maintained a small farm west of Curran; and

WHEREAS, J.P. and Esther Knox began their family with the birth of Thomas Dickerson on July 8, 1908; next came James Donald on November 24, 1909; he was followed by Kathryn Loretta on May 9, 1912, John Louis on July 23, 1914, Charles Carroll on November 21, 1916, Lawrence William on January 26, 1919, Howard Eugene on March 29, 1921, Paul Edward on January 18, 1923, and Joseph Patrick on February 10, 1925; and

WHEREAS, In 1932, J.P. Knox was elected to serve as Sangamon County Coroner; he instilled in his children the importance of civic responsibility and voting as it was their duty and privilege as Americans; all of J.P. and Esther's children served in various fields and raised children of their own, with Joseph following in his father's political footsteps as Clerk of the Circuit Court in Sangamon County and Public Health Commissioner for the City of Springfield; and

WHEREAS, World War II saw many changes to the Knox family; Thomas was employed as CEO of Doyle Freight Lines in Saginaw, Michigan when the Governor of Michigan appointed him to coordinate the transportation of supplies to military bases in several Midwest states; and

WHEREAS, While Thomas performed his duties in Michigan, his seven brothers enlisted in the military; three served in the United States Navy, three in the United States Army, and one in the United States Marine Corps; all seven returned home safely with honorable discharges after the war; and

WHEREAS, In 1951, J.P. Knox passed away; he received eulogies from the editor of the Springfield State Register and the Illinois State Journal; today, his descendants carry on the name and great traditions of this proud Illinois family; and

WHEREAS, The members of the J.P. "Cotton" Knox family serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate May 31, 2016 as "J.P. 'Cotton' Knox Family Day" in the State of Illinois in honor of their great contributions to the City of Springfield, the State of Illinois, and the nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the J.P. "Cotton" Knox family as a symbol of our respect and esteem.