HR0454 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0454 LRB096 12969 GRL 27343 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Jim Bruno on the occasion of his retirement from the Kankakee City Fire Department; and

WHEREAS, Jim Bruno began his fire service career with the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District in January of 1982 following the sudden passing of his father; he served with the Kankakee Township Fire Department until 1988; during his tenure, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was the first paramedic in the department; and

WHEREAS, On December 5, 1988, Jim Bruno was sworn in as a member of the Kankakee City Fire Department; he accomplished many certifications during his 20 1/2 year career; and

WHEREAS, Jim Bruno was the recipient of the Kankakee Fire Department Distinguished Service Award on September 21, 1990 for saving the life of a woman who was found in the living room of her burning structure at Stone Street and 6th Avenue in Kankakee; the woman was found during the primary search in a chair 20 feet from the front door in cardiac arrest; with the help of fellow firefighter Steve Born, Mr. Bruno carried the woman out the door and placed her onto a waiting stretcher, then proceeded to perform ALS treatment to the hospital; the woman made a complete recovery; and

WHEREAS, Jim Bruno is a very strong proponent for union labor; he joined the Kankakee Fire Fighters Union in January of 1989; he has served as a chaplain for 2 years and, most recently, as the Executive Board Secretary for the past 4 years; he has attended numerous courses on how to succeed in grievance and arbitration hearings and numerous health and safety courses held by the IAFF; he attended classes on how to negotiate labor contracts through the University of Illinois; he served as the Firefighters Union Delegate for the Kankakee Federation of Labor from 1996 until 2005; he has also been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers since 1992 and has been a strong proponent of the IBEW labor movement; and

WHEREAS, Jim Bruno is a member of the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Honor Guard and is the Fourth District First Shirt; and

WHEREAS, Jim Bruno's wife, Stacey Ann, is a Captain with the United States Army Reserve; he has 3 children, Austyn James, Andrew Joseph, and Abbie Jolin; and

WHEREAS, During his retirement, Jim Bruno will continue to support the labor movement and will remain a member of the Kankakee Fire Fighters Union, the Honor Guard, and the IBEW; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jim Bruno on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jim Bruno as a symbol of our esteem and respect.