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1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | ||||||
3 | learn of the death of Arthur Velasquez of North Aurora, who | ||||||
4 | passed away on January 27, 2017; and
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5 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez was born in Lockhart, Texas on | ||||||
6 | December 30, 1934 and attended segregated schools with other | ||||||
7 | Latino students; and
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8 | WHEREAS, As a young boy, Arthur Velasquez worked in his | ||||||
9 | father's mechanic shop and learned that he was very skilled | ||||||
10 | with his hands, which would play a role in his later life; and | ||||||
11 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez became involved in politics at a | ||||||
12 | young age and served on committees with his then-Congressman | ||||||
13 | Lyndon Johnson; and | ||||||
14 | WHEREAS, In 1956, Arthur Velasquez met and married his | ||||||
15 | wife, Alice; they were married for 41 years until her passing | ||||||
16 | in 1997; and | ||||||
17 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez became a carpenter and joined the | ||||||
18 | United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC); in 1966, he was | ||||||
19 | appointed as an organizer for the UBC and later became a | ||||||
20 | representative for the International President of the UBC, |
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1 | where he worked in several states, Puerto Rico, and the | ||||||
2 | Caribbean; and | ||||||
3 | WHEREAS, In 1973, Arthur Velasquez's increased | ||||||
4 | responsibilities with the carpenters union allowed him to move | ||||||
5 | his family to North Aurora; and | ||||||
6 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez was a true community servant and | ||||||
7 | served on the boards of many community organizations in Aurora, | ||||||
8 | including the United Way, the Urban League, the Hispanic | ||||||
9 | Heritage Advisory Board, Family Counseling Service, Study | ||||||
10 | Circles, Friends of Seniors, and Centro Panamericano; and | ||||||
11 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez was heavily involved in | ||||||
12 | Democratic politics in the Aurora area, having been a mentor | ||||||
13 | for many elected officials, whether they were congressmen or | ||||||
14 | township trustees; and | ||||||
15 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez was a powerful voice for | ||||||
16 | organized labor in the Aurora area; and | ||||||
17 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez was a passionate advocate for | ||||||
18 | education; after growing up in segregated schools, he fought | ||||||
19 | for the right of all students to receive a quality education | ||||||
20 | and saw it as a great equalizer; and |
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1 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez served as president of League of | ||||||
2 | United Latin American Citizens Council (LULAC) 5218 and the | ||||||
3 | LULAC Council of the Aurora Foundation, where he raised more | ||||||
4 | than $200,000 for scholarships for local students; and
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5 | WHEREAS, The stories of Arthur Velasquez's generosity and | ||||||
6 | kindness in the Aurora community are countless; and
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7 | WHEREAS, Arthur Velasquez was the proud father of Patty, | ||||||
8 | Valarie, Art, April, Crystal and Timothy; grandfather to Dodi, | ||||||
9 | Jeremy, Christopher, Marcus, Jackie, Mike, Jeff, Amber, | ||||||
10 | Autumn, Anthony, Tyler, and Sean; and great-grandfather to | ||||||
11 | Veronica, Victoria, Mya, Liam, Camden, Saylor, Jack, Will, | ||||||
12 | Brenna, and Jade; therefore, be it
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13 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL | ||||||
14 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
15 | Arthur Velasquez, and extend our sincere condolences to his | ||||||
16 | family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it | ||||||
17 | further
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18 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
19 | presented to the family of Arthur Velasquez as an expression of | ||||||
20 | our deepest sympathy.
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