HJ0031 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0031 LRB103 32044 MST 60960 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Donald Stephens was born in Chicago on March 13, 1928; and

WHEREAS, Donald Stephens was the first village president (mayor) of Rosemont; he was first elected in 1956 and re-elected until his death on April 18, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the village of Rosemont's incorporation, Donald Stephens was the president of the homeowner's association of the neighborhood that later became Rosemont; and

WHEREAS, Donald Stephens was believed to be the longest-serving mayor in the United States at the time of his passing; and

WHEREAS, During Donald Stephens' tenure as mayor, the village of Rosemont grew from a community of only 85 people to become one of Illinois' most influential communities with over 4,000 residents as well as the nation's tenth-largest convention center, properly named after Donald Stephens; and

WHEREAS, Donald Stephens oversaw the construction of the 18,500 seat Allstate Arena and the Rosemont Theatre; and

WHEREAS, Donald Stephens was an avid collector of Hummel figurines and established a museum holding his collection in Rosemont; the Donald E. Stephens Museum of Hummels claims to be the largest public display of Hummel figurines in the world; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the Balmoral Avenue Bridge over Interstate 294 as the "Donald Stephens Memorial Bridge"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Toll Highway Authority is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "Donald Stephens Memorial Bridge"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Donald Stephens and the Executive Director of the Illinois Toll Highway Authority.