HR0318LRB103 32636 LAW 62291 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to recognize the Momence Fire Protection 
4District's naming of its firehouse in honor of the late former 
5Fire Chief James "Jim" LaMotte; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte was born to Robert and Ethel LaMotte 
7in Kankakee on October 23, 1940; he married Marlene D. Grimes 
8in Momence on August 4, 1962, and they had three daughters; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte became a volunteer firefighter in 
101958, serving on the Momence Fire Protection District for over 
1150 years; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte courageously served as fire chief of 
13the Momence Fire Protection District for 21 years, and he 
14served as a sitting member and president of the board of 
15trustees; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte's impact on the Kankakee County 
17region is indelible, as he served on the committee to 
18establish 911 in Kankakee and the Kankakee County Emergency 
19Telephone System Board from 1989 to 2021, serving as chairman 
20on the latter for 27 years; and
  
 
 
 
HR0318- 2 -LRB103 32636 LAW 62291 r

1    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte served as a sitting officer and 
2treasurer of the Illinois Firefighter Memorial Foundation and 
3the State Firefighter Medal of Honor Committee; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, In addition to his service in first response, Jim 
5LaMotte spent many years engaged  with his community, serving 
6as president of the Hundred Club of Kankakee County, past vice 
7chairman of the Kankakee County Board, and board member of 
8Drug Free, Inc.; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte also volunteered at Good Shepherd 
10Manor in Momence from its very beginning in 1971, and he served 
11as chairman of the board of directors for 22 years; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte's service was recognized many times, 
13being named the 1999 Momence Citizen of the Year and having 
14received the 2015 Momence Chamber of Commerce Lifetime 
15Achievement Award, the 2018 Joe Gianotti President Award from 
16the Hundred Club of Kankakee County, and the 2021 Kankakee 
17911/ETSB Years of Service Award; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte was further honored when the Kankakee 
19County Board proclaimed October 2021 as Jim LaMotte Month; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte was a lifetime parishioner of St. 
21Patrick Church in Momence, where he also served on the 
 
 
HR0318- 3 -LRB103 32636 LAW 62291 r

1cemetery board and finance council; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte passed away in February 2022, and he 
3was preceded in death by his wife in 2018; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Jim LaMotte left behind a legacy in his public 
5service and through his daughters, Lori (Don) Henry, Sandy 
6(Bob) Malpasuto, and Jackie (Bill) Haas, his grandchildren, 
7Jill (Justin) Licke, Ashley (Erik) Michener, Aryn (Jeff) 
8Whiting, Jack Malpasuto, Mike (Rachel) Malpasuto, Nicole Haas, 
9and Ben Haas, and his sister-in-law, Patricia LaMotte; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, The Momence Fire Protection District has 
11announced it will be naming its firehouse in honor of the late 
12former Fire Chief James "Jim" LaMotte for his lifetime of 
13service to and the profound impact he had on his communities; 
14therefore, be it
  
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
16HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
17we recognize the Momence Fire Protection District's naming of 
18its firehouse in honor of the late former Fire Chief James 
19"Jim" LaMotte, a dedication to a true community leader of 
20Kankakee County and the State of Illinois who gave his gifts 
21and time to the people and communities he loved; and be it 
22further
  
 
 
 
HR0318- 4 -LRB103 32636 LAW 62291 r

1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
2presented to Momence Fire Protection District Fire Chief James 
3Spoon and the LaMotte family as an expression of our esteem and 
4respect.