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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
4who have served their communities; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Pastor Victor Hugo Rodriguez was born in Nuevo
6Ideal, Durango, Mexico to Juanita and Emigdio Rodriguez on
7January 16, 1967; his family moved to the La Villita
8neighborhood of Chicago when he was a young boy; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Pastor Rodriguez first met his wife, Magdalena,
10in January 1990 at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago; they were
11married for 27 years and were blessed with two sons and a
12nephew whom they regarded as a son, Víctor, Isaih, and Luis
13Alberto Perales; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Pastor Rodriguez was a graduate of Christian Life
15College in Mount Prospect and was in full-time ministry for 26
16years; he pastored the local body of La Villita Community
17Church for the past 20 years; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Pastor Rodriguez was a bridge builder between the
19North and South Lawndale communities; he was passionate about
20developing the next generation of leaders; he worked to
21address pressing community issues, such as violence

 

 

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1prevention, youth development, health and wellness, domestic
2violence, and the expansion of homeownership as a way to
3combat gentrification; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Pastor Rodriguez was on the board of directors of
5various community and religious organizations that included
6Lawndale Christian Health Center and Un Nuevo Despertar, as
7well as involvement with Comunidad en Acción; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Pastor Rodriguez founded the Chicago Youth Boxing
9Club in the basement of La Villita Community Church, which has
10developed young leaders and athletes with a focus on service
11and leadership and has established a satellite boxing program
12in Mexico; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Pastor Rodriguez was affectionately known as
14"Pastor Vic" and had a wonderful sense of humor; he was a
15cornerstone of the La Villita community and will be remembered
16not only for his service to his community but for his devotion
17to enacting social justice; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
20REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the
21section of Ogden Avenue in Chicago that runs from South
22Pulaski Road to South Kedzie Avenue as the "Pastor Victor

 

 

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1Rodriguez Avenue"; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
3is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
4State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
5giving notice of the name the "Pastor Victor Rodriguez
6Avenue"; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Pastor Rodriguez and the Secretary
9of Transportation.