HR0634 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0634 LRB100 15064 MST 29906 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Reverend Johnny L. McGowan on being installed as the Pastor of Gayles Memorial Baptist Church in Aurora on October 1, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan was born to Percy and Lillie Bell McGowan in Utica, Mississippi, one of 15 siblings; he was baptized at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Utica at the age of 13; as a young man, he attended church services regularly, receiving biblical training from Sunday school and other ministries within the church; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan moved to Aurora in July of 1973; he worked at Nicor Gas, retiring after 27 years of service as a manager for the Quality Assessor for the Illinois region; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan became a member of Gayles Memorial Baptist Church in November of 1981; he served as treasurer from 1985 through 2008 and was ordained as a deacon in March of 1994; he was ordained and licensed as a minister on August 14, 2011; he served as an associate minister from August of 2011 through March of 2016; he received his Bachelor of Theology and served as interim pastor from April of 2016 through May of 2017; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan has assisted in organizing the Community Neighborhood Outreach through the City of Aurora Neighborhood along with the Neighborhood Night Out program, which encourages the community to come together to promote unity within a multi-cultural environment; and

WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, Hazel, for 43 years; he is the father of two sons, Jeffrey (Julita) and Reginald (Hope), and one daughter, Rachelle (Joe); he is also the grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of one; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Reverend Johnny L. McGowan on being installed as the Pastor of Gayles Memorial Baptist Church, and we wish him many successful years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor McGowan as an expression of our esteem and respect.