HR0696 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0696 LRB095 13567 GRL 39261 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. on the occasion of his retirement as pastor of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Bloomington; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. was born on August 13, 1954; he attended school at the University of Phoenix, Lincoln College, and Trinity Christian College; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. was ordained as a minister in 1978 from the Christian Fellowship District Baptist Association; he began his ministerial work at the Shining Start Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, serving there from 1979 to 1983; he then went to Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in 1984, where he served until his retirement; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. has worked with many civic and social organizations, such as Youth Inpact of Bloomington-Normal, the "Share" Program, the Minority Advocacy Council, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Club, the Not In Our Town Coalition, Neighbor-to-Neighbor, the Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal, Cultural Fest of Bloomington-Normal, the Foster Care Coalition of McLean County, One Church One Child of Illinois, and the Family and Community Center of McLean County, where he has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since July 2004; and he has served as 1st Vice Moderator, minister of music, youth advisor, and district musician for the Orthodox Woodriver District Baptist Association; he served as Nominating Committee chair, Biblical instructor, and State advisor for the Illinois Baptist State Convention; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. has been the recipient of many awards in recognition of his community service, including the 1987 Bloomington Cultural Festival Inc. Award, the 1991 Dr. Martin Luther King Gospel Festival Award, the 1996 Mason's Elijah Betts #33 Citizen of the Year Award, the 1996 Black Student Union Kick Off Award, the 1996 Neighbor-to-Neighbor Award, the 1997 McLean County Community Compact Award, the 1997 Bahi light Unity Award, the 1998 Illinois Municipal Human Relations Award, and the 1999 Bloomington Human Relations Award; he was given an award from the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice Central Illinois Chapter in 2002; and he was the recipient of awards from the McLean County Urban League, the South Suburban Family Shelter, Inc., and Trinity Christian College in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. and his wife, Bettye, have 5 children, Frank L. Jr., Angel, Kanisha, Justin, and Xavier; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. on the occasion of his retirement and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Frank McSwain Sr. as a symbol of our esteem and respect.