HJ0159 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0159 LRB099 22691 MST 50120 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to individuals who have given their lives in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, Enoch Hopkins was born on March 22, 1824 in Jefferson, Maine; he began his long career as a law enforcer shortly after coming to Morris in the summer of 1854; and

WHEREAS, Marshal Hopkins' honorable service was tragically cut short when he was killed in the line of duty on September 14, 1878; and

WHEREAS, On the night of September 14, notorious roughs Frank Foster and Charles Miller came to town; the pair shortly became intoxicated; and

WHEREAS, Marshal Hopkins advised the men several times over the course of the evening to go home as they became disorderly; Foster and Miller ignored the multitude of warnings they received and persisted their drinking until late into the evening; and

WHEREAS, Around midnight, Marshal Hopkins found it necessary to arrest the two drunk men and caught them in a downtown alleyway; as Marshal Hopkins was leading them out of the alley, the men fled on foot; and

WHEREAS, Marshal Hopkins pursued the men when Charles Miller suddenly drew his revolver and fired twice at the officer; Marshal Hopkins was hit by one of the shots and died almost instantly; and

WHEREAS, The funeral for Marshal Hopkins was the largest seen in Morris at the time; he was an honored member of the Masonic Order, a great, noble man, and a respected citizen of the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of Illinois Route 47 over Interstate 80 from Romines Drive to Illinois Route 6 East as the "Marshal Enoch T. Hopkins Memorial Road"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name of the "Marshal Enoch T. Hopkins Memorial Road"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Marshal Hopkins, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Morris Police Department, and the Mayor of the City of Morris.