HR1431 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1431 LRB099 23498 GRL 50967 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to honor David Owen for his many accomplishments as Mayor of the Village of South Chicago Heights; and

WHEREAS, David Owen was born on April 15, 1940, to Oral and Irene Owen; he married June Owen on June 23, 1961 and has resided in South Chicago Heights for 53 years; and

WHEREAS, David Owen attended Ledford Elementary School, graduated from Harrisburg High School and Prairie State College, and was honorably discharged from the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, David Owen and his wife are the proud parents of April, Scott, Erika, and Yvette, and the devoted grandparents of Allison, Charles, Benjamin, Katelyn, Micah, Lucas, and Dominic; and

WHEREAS, David Owen retired after 30 years of service from National Chemsearch, four years of service with the Village of Brookfield, and 42 years of service with the Village of South Chicago Heights; and

WHEREAS, David Owen began his political career by serving on the Bloom Township Youth Committee Advisory Board from 1973 to 1979; on January 6, 1975, he was appointed to serve as a South Chicago Heights Trustee to fill an unexpired term; after serving as a Trustee for 14 years, he ran for Mayor and was elected on April 4, 1989; and

WHEREAS, David Owen served as the 12th Village President and was elected to an unprecedented seven terms as Village President; under his guidance, many committees and programs were formed to enhance the standard of living of the residents of South Chicago Heights, including the construction of the Public Safety Center, the Veterans Memorial Mound, and the Senior Center Pavilion, the connection of the Village to a Lake Michigan water supply, and the establishment of the Courtesy Car Program for Seniors; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, David Owen was named a member of "Who's Who in Local Government"; he was voted "Best Mayor" for two consecutive years; he was also the recipient of the 2008 Excellence in Government Award from the Illinois Crime Commission; and

WHEREAS, In 1997, David Owen was appointed to serve as the Vice President of the Illinois Municipal League; he served as president of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association and on the Executive Council of the Mayors of the Chicago Area Transportation Study; and

WHEREAS, In September 2013, the South Chicago Heights Village Board voted unanimously to rename the Village Hall the "David L. Owen Municipal Building" in honor of his service; on September 6, 2016, he celebrated the dedication of the new Public Safety Center; and

WHEREAS, David Owen will retire from public office on October 3, 2016; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate September 30, 2016 as "David L. Owen Day" in the State of Illinois in honor of David Owen in recognition of his dedicated service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to David Owen as a symbol of our esteem and respect.