HR1001 LRB093 21729 HSS 51622 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois are pleased to honor Patrick Durkin for his
4 many accomplishments throughout his life, a life dedicated to
5 the service of others; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Patrick James Durkin was born on November 14,
7 1939; he has been married to Kathleen Durkin for over 40 years
8 and is the father of 8 children; he holds a Master of Arts
9 degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern Illinois
10 University; he also holds an Associate of Arts degree in
11 liberal arts from Wilson Junior College and a second Associate
12 of Arts in fire science from Daley Junior College; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Mr. Durkin valiantly served his country in the
14 U.S. Army as a squad leader and heavy equipment driver; he
15 received an honorable discharge; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Mr. Durkin has received countless honors and
17 awards for his dedicated work as a fireman in the Chicago area
18 and in security at Northeastern Illinois University; he
19 received the City of Chicago Fire Department Special Honorable
20 Award in 1971 for rescuing a child from a burning building; in
21 1972, he received the Underwriters Award for Bravery, the
22 Chicago Jaycees Award for Personal Heroism, the Ward La France
23 Fire Industry Award of Honor for Heroism, and a Certificate of
24 Appreciation for Personal Courage for rescuing a baby from a
25 burning building; he was the recipient of Mayor Daley's
26 Certificate of Merit for Courageous Action Beyond the Normal
27 Call of Duty in 1972; he received the Gaelic Fire Brigade Award
28 for Dedication to the Chicago Fire Department in 1979, and in
29 1980, he was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the
30 American Society for Industrial Security; he was the recipient
31 of a Northeastern Illinois University Official Department
32 Commendation for Exceptional Police Work in 1981, when he

 

 

HR1001 - 2 - LRB093 21729 HSS 51622 r

1 arrested 3 convicts during an act of burglary; he also received
2 a recognition award from Northeastern Illinois University in
3 1982 for calming an enraged psychotic man during a police call,
4 and he also received a Northeastern Illinois University Letter
5 of Accommodation in 1986 for arresting an escaped convict on a
6 battery and hate crime; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Mr. Durkin chose to change his career and focus
8 his efforts on the education of children as a principal and
9 teacher; in his role as teacher and principal, he realized that
10 each child has promise and dedicated himself to ensuring that
11 the students under his care received the best possible
12 education; Mr. Durkin's leadership and skills as an educator
13 are present in his stewardship of Goudy School in the Uptown
14 community in Chicago; once called "the worst school in the
15 worst school district in the nation", Mr. Durkin proved that
16 motivated students, inspired parents, dedicated teachers, and
17 community support can change the direction of a school and
18 provide a quality education for its students; Mr. Durkin's
19 attention to diversity, public safety, teacher development,
20 and parent involvement and quality student programs have made
21 Goudy School a model public school; for his accomplishments as
22 principal of Goudy, in 1997, he was named Principal of the
23 Year; and
 
24     WHEREAS, Mr. Durkin has also received countless honors and
25 awards for his work in education and his community service; he
26 received the Henderson School Teacher Recognition Award in
27 1984, a Certificate of Award from Our Lady of Peace School for
28 Community Service in 1988-1989 and 1991-1992 for coaching
29 various teams and being involved with Cub Scouts, the Edgewater
30 Community Council-Education Award "Salute Edgewater" in 1994,
31 and the First Annual Quality of Life Award for Education in the
32 48th Ward in 1992; he was a finalist for the Whitman Award in
33 1991, and he received a Certificate of Exemplary Performance
34 for the 1995-1996 school year from the Chicago Public Schools

 

 

HR1001 - 3 - LRB093 21729 HSS 51622 r

1 and the Bridging the GAP Illinois Goal Assessment Program Award
2 in 1995; in 1994, he was a recipient of the Department of
3 Safety and Security's School Safety Award, and in 1993, he
4 received an Academic Achievement Award from the Chicago Public
5 Schools; he was the recipient of the First Annual Community
6 School Partnership Award in 1991 given by the Organization of
7 the Northeast, and on Christmas Day of 2001, he was WGN's
8 Unsung Hero; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Mr. Durkin is the proud father of Maripat Donahue
10 (Bill Donahue), Kathleen Wiersema (Richard Wiersema), Raleen
11 Quick (Mark Quick), Eileen Stobart (Reese Stobart), Maureen
12 Durkin-Moran (Terrance Moran), Patrick Durkin (Emily Durkin),
13 Michael Durkin, and John Durkin; he is the proud grandfather of
14 Richard Wiersema, Rodney Wiersema, Reid Wiersema, Kathleen
15 Wiersema, Reghan Quick, Karrighan Quick, Delaney Quick, and
16 Erin Durkin; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
19 honor Patrick Durkin for his many accomplishments as a father,
20 husband, principal, teacher, fireman, and friend to many
21 throughout his life; and be it further
 
22     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
23 presented to Patrick Durkin as an expression of our respect and
24 esteem.