HR0527 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0527 LRB102 21146 LAW 30144 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Michael E. Jackson on being selected as the Grand Master of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Michael Jackson was elected Grand Master on October 8, 2021 and is responsible for leading the 47,000 Freemasons who are members of the subordinate lodges in Illinois; he was named to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in April 1988 and has been a Mason for over 33 years; and

WHEREAS, Michael Jackson's mother lodge is Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 51 in Hillsboro; he served as its Worshipful Master in 1993, 1998, and 2010; he also served as Treasurer in 2013; he has been chosen as an honorary member of five lodges in Illinois, including Kimmundy Lodge No. 398, Red Bud Lodge No. 427, East Lodge No. 504, Altamont Lodge No. 533, and Frankfort Lodge No. 567; in addition to his lodge activities, he has served as an advocate of Masonic education, and he received commissions as a Grand Lecturer in 1994 and a Grand Lodge Instructor in 1999; he joined the Grand Lodge Board of Grand Examiners in 2004, where he served as its Secretary from 2008 to 2009 and Chairman from 2010 to 2013; and

WHEREAS, Michael Jackson's first Grand Lodge officer appointment occurred as a Grand Steward in 1996; he was next appointed as the Grand Marshal in 2000 and served in that position for three years; he was later appointed as the Junior Grand Deacon in 2013 and the Senior Grand Deacon in 2014 before being elected to Junior Grand Warden in 2015; he has served on several Grand Lodge committees over the years, including the Finance Committee, the Illinois Masonic Outreach Services (IMOS) Board of Managers, and the Illinois Masonic Children's Assistance Program (IMCAP) Board of Managers; he also served as the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Africa (Congo) for five years beginning in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Michael Jackson is a devoted member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Springfield; he was nominated to receive honorary membership in the Supreme Council 33° in 2017; he is also a member of the York Rite Bodies in Hillsboro and served as Past Puissant Sovereign of St. Edwards Conclave Red Cross of Constantine, having led that organization in 2017; he is an honorary member of the DeMolay International Legion of Honor; he also became a member of the Ainad Shriners of Southern Illinois in East St. Louis in 2018; and

WHEREAS, Michael Jackson continues to enjoy a robust professional career dedicated to providing communications equipment management and services to various customers, including educational institutions, which has spanned more than 24 years; throughout his career, he has enjoyed various technical, supervisory, and management roles, which have provided a broad understanding of business operations, including how to effectively lead teams from laborers to managers; and

WHEREAS, Michael Jackson has spent more than 35 years building a loving family with his wife, including spending quality time with their daughter, son, and grandchildren; he also enjoys traveling to relax and explore his surroundings; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Michael E. Jackson on being selected as the Grand Master of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois; and be it further

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