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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Arturo Velasquez, who passed away on 
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April 17, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez was born in 1915 in Tototlan, 
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Jalisco, Mexico; he came to the United States at the age of 
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eight; he graduated from Haines Elementary School and attended 
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Crane Technical High School; he received an Honorary Doctorate 
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of Public Service in 1981 from the National College of 
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Education and a Doctorate of Public Service from Saint Xavier 
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College in 1988; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1938, during the "Great Depression", Arturo 
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Velasquez founded the Velasquez Automatic Music Company at 4539 
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South Ashland Avenue in the Back of the Yards neighborhood; for 
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many years, he sold arcade games and Mexican music for 
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jukeboxes to Latino restaurants; he was well known in his 
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neighborhood as a generous supporter of programs and 
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scholarships to help young people there; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez served his country with pride and 
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distinction as a member of the United States Army during World 
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War II; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez was the founder of the Illinois 
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Federation of Mexican Americans in 1958; he co-founded in 1967 
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and served as charter president of the Azteca Lions Club; he 
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also played key roles in founding the Mexican-American Chamber 
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of Commerce of Illinois, the Federation of Mexican-Americans, 
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the Spanish Speaking Study Commission, the Mexican Civic 
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Society, and the Mexican-American Democrats of Cook County, 
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among many others; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez served as a trustee of the City 
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Colleges of Chicago for 10 years; in 2008, Richard J. Daley 
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College rededicated and renamed its West Side Technical 
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Institute the Arturo Velasquez West Side Technical Institute in 
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honor of Mr. Velasquez and his work; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez gave more than fifty years of 
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dedicated service to the Cordi-Marian Settlement House; he was 
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the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of his 
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outstanding contributions, including  the American Legion 
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Manuel Perez Post  (#1017) 1964 "Man of the Year" award, the 
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Counsel General of Mexico's 1967 "Man of the Year" award, the 
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Boys and Girls Club of Chicago's Chairman of the Board and 1980 
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Volunteer of the Year awards, the City Colleges of Chicago 
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Foundation's 1984 "Man of the Year" award, the Mexican Civic 
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Society's 1986 "Man of the Year" award, the St. Augustine 
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College's "Puente" Award, "The Ohtli" Award, Mexico's highest 
 


 






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honor, The Chicago Historical Society's 2002 "Making History" 
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Award, and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2006 
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"Pipila" Award; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Arturo Velasquez is survived by his wife of 72 
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years, Shirley; his children, Arthur, Edward, Carmen, and Maria 
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Elena; his 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and his 
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siblings, Marina, Eliseo, Josefina, and Elisia; therefore, be 
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it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Arturo Velasquez; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Arturo Velasquez as an expression of 
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our sympathy.