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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives are pleased
3to honor W. "Bill" Williams, Jr. on his work with the Chicago
4Convention and Tourism Bureau and his life's achievements; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Bill Williams, Jr. currently serves as Vice
6President for Diversity/Sales of the Chicago Convention and
7Tourism Bureau; he has been with the CCTB for more than 3
8decades covering the Social, Military, Education/Ethnic,
9Religious, and Fraternal Market (SMERF), and is a veteran of
10over 40 years in the hospitality industry; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Bill Williams, Jr. is a founding board member of
12the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and the
13Chicago Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting
14Professionals; he is a member of Who's Who Among Black
15Americans, Who's Who Black Chicago, and holds memberships in a
16number of other organizations, including the Religious
17Conference Management Association, International Association
18of Hispanic Meeting Professionals, Rainbow Push Coalition,
19president of the Rat Pack Chicago, former Grand Marketing
20Director of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of the
21Elks of the Community Action, and board member of the Shoop
22School 49ers's; he is on the board of trustees of the Chicago
23Baptist Institute, a board member of the Academy of Travel and

 

 

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1Tourism for the Chicago Public Schools, and is a member of the
2City Club of Chicago; he was recently elected as one of 50 men
3of excellence by a poll of the Chicago Defender Newspaper; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Bill Williams, Jr. is nationally recognized as a
5leader in the cause of furthering racial equality and
6opportunity in the convention and tourism industry; he is a
7mentor to many people in the hospitality industry and has had a
8tremendous impact on the economic growth and development of
9Chicago's hospitality industry; he is the senior African
10American in the U.S. in the convention bureau industry; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Bill Williams, Jr. was born in the Morgan Park
12community of Chicago, where he has a street dedicated in his
13honor and he is active in the betterment of his community; he
14founded the Morgan Park Shoe Repair and Shine Parlor, now
15called K & J Shoe Repair, and Shine Parlors and is more than
16two decades old; it is an international company that provides
17part-time employment for more than 30 people; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Bill Williams, Jr. received his business degree
19from Chicago State University; he has been married to Sylester
20Tillman Williams for 47 years and is father to Karen, Kevin,
21and Keyth; he is a grandfather and lifelong member of Mt.
22Calvary Baptist Church; he is a member of the Montford Point
23Marines, Alpha Psi Fraternity, and the Quarter Century Club of

 

 

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1Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; he is a 33rd degree Mason and a
2Shriner; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5we honor Bill Williams, Jr. on his time with the Chicago
6Convention and Tourism Bureau and his life's achievements; and
7be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to Bill Williams, Jr. as an expression of our esteem
10and respect.