HR0037 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0037 LRB099 04335 GRL 24362 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It has come to the attention of this body that the East Joliet Fire Department is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its founding; and

WHEREAS, In March of 1939, a vote was held at A.O. Marshall School in Joliet concerning the building of the Department, which was overwhelmingly approved; and

WHEREAS, Before the department had any equipment or a formal organization, William J. Bolton was selected to serve as Chief of the Department; and

WHEREAS, In June of 1940, the Department acquired its first piece of equipment, a chemical truck purchased from the Orland Park Fire Department; later that year, the firemen built a 2-bay fire station at 409 Leach Avenue in Joliet and a 1936 tanker was purchased; in September of 1942, a third truck was obtained from the Dwight Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, In 1950, 2-way radios were purchased for all of the Department's trucks; in 1953, 30 home receivers were placed in the volunteers' homes to alert them about fire calls; and

WHEREAS, In 1959, an election was held to form a Fire Protection District, which was overwhelmingly approved; and

WHEREAS, In April of 1963, Chief Bolton passed away and Robert J. Klint was selected to serve as the next Chief of the Department; and

WHEREAS, In May of 1964, a second station was built at 102 East Zarley Boulevard in Joliet; and

WHEREAS, In 1978, a third fire station was built at 911 South Briggs Street in Joliet; this station now serves as headquarters for the Department; and

WHEREAS, In February of 2000, Chief Klint passed away and Robert F. Scholtes, Jr. was appointed as acting chief; in October of 2000, Robert F. Scholtes, Jr. was appointed to serve as Chief of the Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, Today, the East Joliet Fire Department has 12 full-time firefighters and a core group of part-time and paid on-call firefighters who operate 2 engines, one 105-foot ladder truck, one heavy rescue truck, 3 ALS ambulances, and one 4-wheel-drive brush truck; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the East Joliet Fire Department on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of its founding, commend their dedication and selfless service, and extend our best wishes to them for continued success in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Robert F. Scholtes, Jr. as a symbol of our esteem and respect.