HR0939 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0939 LRB100 21355 ALS 37738 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Sybil Mervis on receiving the Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society Foundation's annual historical preservation award; and

WHEREAS, The Foundation annually recognizes a deserving individual who has made significant contributions to preserve local history; and

WHEREAS, Sybil Mervis moved to Danville 60 years ago when she married Louis Mervis and has been an integral community volunteer and leader for the last six decades; this recognition highlights her steadfast commitment and outstanding accomplishments regarding historical preservation on the local and family level; and

WHEREAS, An author, writer, and memoirist, Sybil Mervis has published several books, articles, and pamphlets on local and family history; her latest book, In the Middle, details her youth growing up in Bloomington; she also penned A Great Depression Courtship, about the early lives and courtship of her parents; she painstakingly researched the histories of the Jewish communities of Danville and Attica, Indiana, which were published in various media, including The Heritage magazine of the Vermilion County Museum Society, booklets, and a chapter of History of Fountain County, Indiana; researching the history of her family farm's property near Potomac, she wrote What the River Hid, the story of the Meneley Mill on the Middlefork River; she has written multiple pamphlets on family history, as well as a biography of her late mother-in-law, the Life of Martha Mervis; she researched the history of the Danville Public Library, which was published in articles in The Heritage; she also co-wrote two local civic booklets, Know Your City and Danville Digest of Local Government; and

WHEREAS, Sybil Mervis is recognized for her contributions in the area of historical preservation, which have been integrated with her decades-long involvement as a tireless advocate for the Danville Public Library, the Vermilion County Museum, and local education; she has devoted many hours of volunteer time and generously supported these areas over the years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Sybil Mervis on receiving the Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society Foundation's annual historical preservation award, and we recognize her contributions to preserving the history of our State; and be it further

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