SR0632 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0632 LRB093 22844 KEF 52663 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is with regret that the members of the Illinois Senate learned of the recent death of President/Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the 47,000 member Chicago and Regional Council of Carpenters, Earl J. Oliver, on July 9, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Earl J. Oliver grew up in Indiana in a labor family; he first joined the Carpenters Union in 1963 as a millwright; he was elected president of his local 1693 and elected as a delegate to the Chicago District in 1975, was elected Chair of the Midwestern Association of Millwrights in 1985, was elected President/Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Chicago and Northeast Illinois District Council of Carpenters in 1992 and then was elected 1st Vice President of the Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trade Council in 1994; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Oliver was known for his vision and innovation; under his leadership, the District Council expanded its membership exponentially, organizing the unorganized, and expanding union building throughout the region; and

WHEREAS, Under Earl Oliver's leadership, apprenticeship training and journeymen skill upgrading became a mainstay of the Union; five years ago he established the first Carpenters' Pre-apprentice and apprenticeship training school in Chicago and in June, Mayor Daley joined him to break ground for the expansion of the school; a new 38,000 square foot building will double the size of the existing facility and allow for the training of 500 pre-apprentices each year; and

WHEREAS, An astute business leader as well, Earl Oliver joined forces with developer John Buck and used the old three story union headquarters at 12 East Erie in Chicago for a joint venture in which they razed the former headquarters and created a 200 unit luxury rental apartment building on the site, which also houses the Union Headquarters, restaurants, and shops; and

WHEREAS, Recently, he had announced the completion of a three-year agreement with MARBA, the association of commercial builders in Northern Illinois, the 5th such agreement he had forged in the last 14 years; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Earl J. Oliver has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife 40 years, Cheryl; his children, Earl E. Oliver, William Oliver, and Joanne Crosby; his grandchildren, Christine, Scottie, and Jennifer Crosby; and his siblings, Shirley Hine and Dianne Smith; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Earl J. Oliver, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Earl J. Oliver as an expression of our sincerest condolences during their time of bereavement.