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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are
3pleased to honor those who make lasting contributions to this
4State and its citizens; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Monroe Flinn was born December 17, 1917 in
6Batesville, Arkansas; his family moved to Cahokia in 1956; as a
7young child, he was called "Big Boy" by his aunts, uncles, and
8his grandmother; this nickname eventually evolved into
9"Biggie", as he was called by his many close friends and
10relatives; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Monroe Flinn worked with his father as a
12barrelmaker before joining Granite City Steel, where he worked
13for 41 years; he later served as a legislator in the Illinois
14House of Representatives in Springfield from 1971 to 1995,
15leading the revision to the Illinois Constitution in 1972;
16during his tenure as State Representative, he was noted for
17unconditionally helping his colleagues and constituents; he
18will be remembered fondly as a man of common sense and honesty
19who earned the respect of his Republican colleagues and fellow
20Democrats alike; and
 
21    WHEREAS, While serving in the Statehouse, Monroe Flinn
22served on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules; when he

 

 

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1left the House of Representatives on January 10, 1995, he had
2the longest record of Joint Committee on Administrative Rules
3service and was its last remaining charter member; in
4recognition of his years of service on the Joint Committee on
5Administrative Rules and in tribute to his unparalleled
6contribution to establishing and advancing rulemaking
7oversight in Illinois, the weekly publication of the Joint
8Committee on Administrative Rules was named "The Flinn Report";
9subscribers and library patrons throughout the State are
10reminded weekly that Representative Flinn helped shape and
11promote a system of regulatory review that serves as a model
12for other States; and
 
13    WHEREAS, During his 23 years as a legislator, Monroe Flinn
14served as Democratic Leader from 1975 to 1980 and on numerous
15committees, including Financial Institutions (chairman),
16Counties and Townships (co-chairman), and Legislative
17Information System Committee (co-chairman); and
 
18    WHEREAS, After his retirement, Monroe Flinn was appointed
19by the Secretary of State to serve as chairman on the State of
20Illinois Merit Commission, which he served in until his death;
21and
 
22    WHEREAS, Monroe Flinn was active in many civic and
23charitable organizations over the years; he was a life member

 

 

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1of Emeth Lodge 1030 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in
2Cahokia, a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies
3of Southern Illinois, a charter member of the Centreville Men's
4Club, an honorary member of American Legion Post 784 in
5Cahokia, a member of the Moose Lodge 423 in Cahokia, a member
6of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association, and a member of the
7Shriners Ainad Temple; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Monroe Flinn's most treasured possession was his
9family; he was so proud of his wife, children, grandchildren,
10great-grandchildren, great-great-grandson, nieces, nephews,
11sisters, and brothers; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Monroe Flinn was preceded in death by his parents,
13Monroe J. and Rue (nee Hanks) Flinn; 2 brothers, Robert and
14Dale Flinn; and a sister, Ellen (Flinn) Woodland; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Monroe Flinn was survived by his wife of 65 years,
16Freda Flinn; a son, Don Flinn; 2 daughters, Carol Flinn (Sam
17Millatti) and Debbie Flinn (Ron Wilshusen); 9 grandchildren,
18Lisa (Millatti) Inman, Mike Millatti, Sharon (Flinn) Erschen
19and her friend, Rob Simons, Kelly Flinn (Gary Simpson), Lori
20(Flinn) Gallion, Bradley Lobsinger, and Megan, Rebecca, and
21Ronnie Wilshusen; 8 great-grandchildren, David and Amanda
22Inman, Anthony Millatti, Rachel and Sarah Erschen, Abby and
23Aaron Creek, and Jake Simpson; a great-great-grandson, Trenton

 

 

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1Inman; 3 sisters, Anna McGinnis, Yvonne Bognar, and Evelyn
2Brogan; and his many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
5SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of
6Interstate 255 within the city limits of Cahokia as the "Monroe
7L. Flinn Memorial Highway" in honor of former State
8Representative Flinn and his accomplishments; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
10is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
11State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
12giving notice of the name of the Monroe L. Flinn Memorial
13Highway; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
15presented to the Illinois Department of Transportation and the
16family of Monroe Flinn.