HR0894 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0894 LRB098 15077 MST 56545 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize John Daniel Slater, Sr. on his life's accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. was born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi on March 8, 1919; he lived his early years in Deeson and Shelby, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; and Venice and East St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. was drafted into the United States Army in 1942 and served in the 43rd Quartermaster Company as a First Cook; he also served in the 2nd Army and saw time in France, Belgium, Holland, and other parts of Europe; his company crossed the Rhine River on temporary bridges during heavy shelling, facing fierce opposition at every turn; at one point, he was separated from his company behind enemy lines for 3 months before being found 1,000 miles from their destination point; he was honorably discharged in 1946 and, as of today, is one of only 3 remaining African Americans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, during this last-gasp effort by the German army; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. settled in Waukegan in 1947 and began working for American Motors in 1949; he later worked as a Floater for 30 years at American Motors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before retiring in 1978; he opened Slater's Barbecue in 1957 on Market Street in Waukegan and it became one of the most affluent establishments in the area with people coming from all over the North Shore for his famous home-made foot-longs and ribs; and

WHEREAS, John Slater, Sr. has been a pioneer business man within the community of Waukegan; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize John Daniel Slater, Sr. on his his lifetime of accomplishments, and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate March 8, 2014 as "John Daniel Slater, Sr. Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to John Slater, Sr. as an expression of our esteem and respect.