HR0511 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0511 LRB094 12544 HSS 47165 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, During the weekend of June 17, 2005, the Village of Cerro Gordo will celebrate its 150th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, The name Cerro Gordo is of Mexican origin and means "Fat Hill"; the name was given to the town in 1855 in honor of John S. "Cerro Gordo" Williams, who commanded some forces and some early citizens who fought and were wounded in the heroic battle at the mountain pass of Cerro Gordo, Mexico, in the Mexican War from 1845 to 1848; and

WHEREAS, One notable souvenir of the war was the cork leg of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna who unfortunately lost it to the 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteers; this group later became the Illinois National Guard, and the cork leg now has a place of honor in the Guard's museum in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, A stagecoach driver is said to be the first to call the community Cerro Gordo; the first store in Cerro Gordo was established in 1856 by Andrew McKinney and A.L. Rogers; in 1865, the first brick house was built and the first brick school building was erected; the first newspaper, The Cerro Gordo News, was established in 1883; in 1889, a tornado struck the town; fortunately, no one was killed; a soldiers' reunion was held in 1890, which brought hundreds of visitors to the town; in 1892, a tragic fire wiped out five stores; and

WHEREAS, In 1912, the Rev. S.W. Thorton claimed that the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School class of 230 was the largest in the nation; in 1934, Van Horn Seed Corn was started; a town icon passed away in 1954, Dr. James G. Lamb had practiced medicine in Cerro Gordo for 41 years and had delivered more than 1,000 babies; in 1963, the State Bank of Cerro Gordo was robbed of $5,632; the out-of-state robbers were apprehended and convicted; and

WHEREAS, Today, Cerro Gordo is a community of 1,436, located about 12 miles east of Decatur on Route 105 and Route 32; the Village has a new grade school, a middle school, and a high school; there are many businesses in the Village, providing for the needs of citizens; and

WHEREAS, The Village is overseen by President James K. Morgan, and the Board of Trustees; they are Jerry Morris, Rod Forbes, Brad Williams, Lyle Shoraga, Mike Songer, and Don Ritchie; the Village employs a police chief and 3 part-time officers; and

WHEREAS, The Village and several groups keep the youth entertained in the summer with Youth League ball, summer reading programs, and park recreation; and

WHEREAS, In honor of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Cerro Gordo there are many festivities and displays planned including, a children's parade, bed races, King Family fireworks, a horseshoe tournament, children's games, 3-on-3 basketball, antique trucks, tractors, an ice carving demo, a book signing by author Richard Peck, a chicken dinner, a pageant about Cerro Gordo, the Bement Country Opry, a quilt exhibit, old time baseball, Jack Russell Terrier races, and cake and ice cream; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Village of Cerro Gordo on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Village of Cerro Gordo as an expression of our esteem and with best wishes for a wonderful celebration and success in the future.