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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Joseph J. | ||||||
| 4 | "Joe" "Mr. Fourth of July" Marino of Rockford, who passed away | ||||||
| 5 | on November 21, 2018; and
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| 6 | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was born in Rockford to Gaspare and | ||||||
| 7 | Francesca (Cacioppo) Marino on September 27, 1926; he served in | ||||||
| 8 | the United States Navy on the destroyer USS Henderson, which | ||||||
| 9 | operated in the South Pacific and was based in Pearl Harbor | ||||||
| 10 | during World War II; he was honorably discharged July 24, 1946; | ||||||
| 11 | he received the Victory medal, the American Area Campaign | ||||||
| 12 | Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal; he married | ||||||
| 13 | Louise in Rockford in 1952; and
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| 14 | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was the TV pitchman for the Hanley | ||||||
| 15 | Furniture store in downtown Rockford from the 1950s until the | ||||||
| 16 | 1970s; he was a longtime employee of Project First Rate; and
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| 17 | WHEREAS, Since 1963, Joe Marino had been in charge of the | ||||||
| 18 | Rockford Fourth of July Committee and, with the help of | ||||||
| 19 | volunteers and donations, turned Rockford's annual fireworks | ||||||
| 20 | show into one of the biggest and best shows in Illinois; he | ||||||
| 21 | turned the Fourth of July into a day of celebrating family, | ||||||
| 22 | friends, and America with a patriotic-themed breakfast, a | ||||||
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| 1 | parade, and a pyrotechnic display that united the community and | ||||||
| 2 | brought in thousands of people; one year, when there was not | ||||||
| 3 | enough money for the fireworks show, he took a second mortgage | ||||||
| 4 | on his house to pay for it; he also organized other events for | ||||||
| 5 | Rockford families, including the Festival of Lights in | ||||||
| 6 | Sinnissippi Park; and
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| 7 | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was officially recognized as Mr. Fourth | ||||||
| 8 | of July by Mayor John McNamara on July 2, 1981, and July 4, | ||||||
| 9 | 1981 was proclaimed "Joe Marino Day"; he was also recognized as | ||||||
| 10 | Mr. Fourth of July by President Ronald Reagan; in early 2010, | ||||||
| 11 | he was honored with a life-size bronzed statue, which was | ||||||
| 12 | placed in Joe Marino Park; and
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| 13 | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was known for his outgoing personality, | ||||||
| 14 | jovial nature, and tireless dedication to the city he called | ||||||
| 15 | home; a beloved civic leader who championed community | ||||||
| 16 | celebrations and festivals for half a century, he inspired | ||||||
| 17 | generations of local children and adults to enthusiastically | ||||||
| 18 | embrace the values of love, honor, and service to their city, | ||||||
| 19 | country, and families; and
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| 20 | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was preceded in death by his wife, | ||||||
| 21 | Louise; therefore, be it
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| 22 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
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| 1 | HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | ||||||
| 2 | mourn the passing of Joseph J. "Joe" "Mr. Fourth of July" | ||||||
| 3 | Marino and extend our sincere condolences to his family, | ||||||
| 4 | friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
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| 5 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 6 | presented to the family of Joe Marino as an expression of our | ||||||
| 7 | deepest sympathy.
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