HR1397 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1397 LRB098 23381 MST 62515 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor our former colleague, State Representative Charles "Chuck" Jefferson, on his service of more than 13 years in the Illinois House of Representatives and thank him for his dedication to the State and the Rockford community; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was born in 1945 in Waco, Texas and served honorably in the United States Army from 1965 to 1971; and

WHEREAS, In 1967, Rep. Jefferson married his late wife, Genell, and they raised 3 sons, Carl Edward, Curtis Lamar, and Charles, Jr., in Rockford; and

WHEREAS, Prior to becoming a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Rep. Jefferson served as a member of the Winnebago County Board, sitting on the Economic Development, Zoning, Forest Preserve, and Legislative committees and chairing the Public Works Committee; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson began his service in the General Assembly with his appointment to the Illinois House of Representatives in April of 2001 following the retirement of former State Rep. Doug Scott; Rep. Jefferson retired as an Assistant House Majority Leader; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was a strong advocate for his community; he worked to ensure that a new judicial circuit was created to increase minority representation on the bench; he brought capital construction projects to his district to create local jobs and repair Rockford's infrastructure and roadways, and he spearheaded a funding project to provide passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago; he tirelessly advocated for the rights of veterans and seniors, and he was always fighting to ensure that Rockford schools and seniors received their fair share; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was an unrelenting activist for the public safety of Rockford, supporting several initiatives to crack down on gang violence and fighting to protect Rockford's CeaseFire program and the Booker Washington Center; and

WHEREAS, Maintaining a close relationship with the community was always Rep. Jefferson's first priority; he provided a professional and responsive constituent service office to help residents navigate through government programs; he hosted his annual Mother's Day Luncheon as a tribute to local mothers, and he raised money for local food pantries; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Jefferson was known throughout the Rockford area and the Illinois House of Representatives for his warm and approachable nature, his wisdom and genuine understanding, and his care for the concerns of Illinois and his community; and

WHEREAS, Those who served with Rep. Jefferson will dearly miss his kind and unwavering friendship, his guidance, and his dedicated and sincere spirit for public service that he brought to the chamber; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor and thank State Representative Charles "Chuck" Jefferson for his years of dedicated service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Rep. Jefferson as an expression of our respect and esteem with our best wishes for his future success.