Full Text of HR0524 101st General Assembly
HR0524 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives are deeply saddened to learn
of the death of | 4 | | Kenneth L. Pickerill, who passed away on September 12, 2019; | 5 | | and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Kenneth Pickerill was born near Summit, Kentucky | 7 | | to William and
Luna (Pence) Pickerill on December 14, 1927; and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, Kenneth Pickerill, known for his tremendous | 9 | | athletic ability and storied contributions to
high school | 10 | | football, both as a player and coach, began his career at | 11 | | Streator High School in
1942; and | 12 | | WHEREAS, Always true to his passion for helping others, | 13 | | Kenneth Pickerill enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating | 14 | | from high school in 1945 and served aboard the U.S.S. Gosselin; | 15 | | he proudly
served his country and was honorably discharged in | 16 | | 1948; and | 17 | | WHEREAS, Upon returning from his tour of duty, Kenneth | 18 | | Pickerill enrolled at Northern Illinois
University (NIU), | 19 | | where he resumed his football career and became NIU's starting | 20 | | quarterback; during his time at NIU, he met Jaqueline
"Jackie" | 21 | | Brooks, who would eventually become his wife for 48 years until |
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| 1 | | her death in 2001; and | 2 | | WHEREAS, After graduating from NIU, Kenneth Pickerill | 3 | | began his teaching and coaching career at
Oswego High School, | 4 | | while continuing his education and earning a master's degree in
| 5 | | 1959; in 1971, he and Jackie opened The Jaqueline Shop in | 6 | | downtown
Oswego, which became a thriving business that served | 7 | | Oswego residents for 25 years; and | 8 | | WHEREAS, Known as the "Ultimate Panther", Kenneth | 9 | | Pickerill was a stalwart of Oswego High
School sports; although | 10 | | he may be best and most widely known for his success on
the | 11 | | football field, he was successful in coaching multiple sports, | 12 | | ultimately becoming
athletic director for the school and head | 13 | | football, wrestling, and baseball coach; he earned five | 14 | | football championships in his 15 years of coaching Panthers | 15 | | football, coached
eight all-state wrestlers, and won three | 16 | | state wrestling championships; he also coached Panther | 17 | | baseball
for nine years and led them to one district and one | 18 | | regional championship; and
| 19 | | WHEREAS, Kenneth Pickerill's strong record of leadership, | 20 | | mentorship, and demonstrable success coaching
Oswego High | 21 | | School athletes earned him inductions into the Illinois High | 22 | | School Wrestling,
Baseball, and Football halls of fame; | 23 | | additionally, he earned an Illinois Merit Award
from the |
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| 1 | | Illinois State Board of Education in 1998; and
| 2 | | WHEREAS, While Kenneth Pickerill will undoubtedly be | 3 | | remembered for his accomplishments on the field, those who knew | 4 | | him understand that he was proudest of his accomplishments off | 5 | | the field; he was a loving husband, kind uncle, and friend to | 6 | | all; and | 7 | | WHEREAS, With words of encouragement or a donation of his | 8 | | own time or resources, Kenneth Pickerill was always willing to | 9 | | give for the betterment of others, be it a friend or stranger; | 10 | | and | 11 | | WHEREAS, Kenneth Pickerill will forever be known as a man | 12 | | who always gave to his community without the need for | 13 | | recognition, reward, or acknowledgement; and | 14 | | WHEREAS, Kenneth Pickerill's legacy is one that will be | 15 | | remembered by the
Oswego community and discussed for | 16 | | generations to come; and | 17 | | WHEREAS, Kenneth Pickerill was preceded in death by his | 18 | | beloved wife, Jacqueline; his parents; his sisters, Eula Adams | 19 | | and Rosave Handy; and his brother, Charles Pickerill; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, Kenneth Pickerill is survived by his sister, |
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| 1 | | Martha Vanko; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and | 2 | | grandnephews; and the countless young men and women who had the | 3 | | great
pleasure of learning, growing, and succeeding under his | 4 | | direction, both as a teacher and coach; therefore, be it
| 5 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 6 | | HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 7 | | we mourn the passing of Kenneth L. Pickerill and extend our | 8 | | sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew | 9 | | and loved him; and be it further
| 10 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 11 | | presented to the family of Kenneth Pickerill as an expression | 12 | | of our deepest sympathy.
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