HR0669 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0669 LRB104 20443 RMO 33908 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Reverend Arthur S. Williams on the occasion of his 100th birthday on January 7, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Williams is known as "Peoria's Pastor" and is a pillar of the community; he has devoted more than seven decades to faith and service, shaping lives well beyond the church walls; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Williams was born in Arkansas on January 7, 1926; he served in the United States Army during World War II; his military service included guarding Nazi prisoners of war, enduring taunts about the racial discrimination he faced at home and in the U.S. Army with the same quiet resolve that has defined his life; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Williams was part of the Great Migration to Peoria, where he broke barriers by becoming the first Black employee of the Peoria Housing Authority (PHA) in 1954 and the first Black member of Laborers' Local 165, earning him the nickname "the Jackie Robinson of the PHA"; further, he raised nine children and helped open doors for generations to follow; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Williams found his spiritual home in Ward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, where he taught adult Sunday school for 40 years and served as an elder for more than 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Williams has impacted countless lives, offering guidance at pivotal moments and serving as a powerful example of leadership and integrity; his mission remains to stay humble, serve God, and treat others right; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Reverend Arthur S. Williams on celebrating his 100th birthday; and be it further

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