HR0234 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0234 LRB101 11815 MST 58806 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Cyril "Pete" Korte on receiving the 2019 Homer Poss Lifetime Achievement Award; and

WHEREAS, The Homer Poss Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the Highland Chamber of Commerce to an individual who has made a significant positive impact on the Highland community through their past achievements over a long period of time and who has enhanced the quality of life for Highland-area residents; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte was born and raised in a devout Catholic family in Damiansville, the 11th of 12 children born to Ben and Mary Korte; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte came from humble beginnings; he grew up very poor but worked very hard on the family farm as a young boy and teenager; with an ailing father, two sisters in the Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood Order, and four brothers in the service, he was left to run the family farm at 14; he attended Damiansville Elementary School and Aviston High School; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte landed his first job in Highland at Basler Electric when he was 16 years old; he joined the U.S. Army Reserve when he was 19; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte and Jane were just kids when they first met, which was through courtships and marriages between their siblings; two of Pete's sisters, Alvina and Alice, married two of Jane's brothers, Francis and John; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte and Jane married in 1958, and he says she truly is the love of his life, his rock and his foundation; and

WHEREAS, With a small loan from his father-in-law and the little savings he had, Pete Korte bought a backhoe and started doing small jobs around Highland and neighboring towns; soon after, he joined forces with his brother-in-law, Joe Luitjohan, and they formed a brother-like-union, working countless hours side-by-side; in 1960, he and Joe joined the Operating Engineers Local 520 with cards numbers 39 and 40; over the years, they broadened their project scope to include roadwork, bridgework, and building demolition; today, as a full-service general contractor and design builder, their business is unique in that it still performs much of its own excavating work; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte has been one of Highland's hardest workers and very industrious over the years; his business ventures included a tree moving business, a strawberry farm, a subdivision development, crane hoisting services, the Beagle Inn Bar and Grill, and mini warehouses; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte was the brainchild behind Windows on Broadway, a unique business in Highland that houses not just an antique store but also a venue space for intimate events; and

WHEREAS, Since early in his adult life, Pete Korte has been involved in many civic organizations, including the Knights of Columbus and the Highland Jaycees; he was a volunteer fire fighter for the City of Highland, which he joined together with his brother-in-law, Joe; he believes the Highland Jaycees and being a fire fighter provided him with structure and strength, which taught him many life lessons; and

WHEREAS, As a Jaycee, Pete Korte spent many years and long hours setting up and tearing down the Highland Homecoming; Jane and his kids were by his side through much of his work; as vice president and chairman of the Highland Jaycees, they earned the #1 Chapter for Highland both years; he enjoyed his work life and giving back was his second nature; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte devoted himself to his church, St. Paul; he was in the choir and served as Kirchenfest Chairman in 1976, the same year he also chaired the Highland Homecoming on the square, donating equipment, labor and materials when needed; he donated equipment, labor, and many loads of rock for the 2017 renovations of the Knights of Columbus baseball diamonds; and

WHEREAS, Pete Korte's spirit of giving and dedication to his church and community has certainly filtered down to his children, as they give back to their own churches and communities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Cyril "Pete" Korte on receiving the 2019 Homer Poss Lifetime Achievement Award and thank him for all the hard work he has done for his community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pete Korte as a symbol of our respect and esteem.