Bill Text: IL HR0013 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates John F. Penn on his retirement and commends him for his decades of service to the members of LiUNA!, his community, and his country.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-01-31 - Resolution Adopted [HR0013 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0013-Introduced.html

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HR0013 LRB103 25642 MST 51991 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate John F. Penn on his
retirement and commend him for his decades of service to the
members of LiUNA!, his community, and his country; and
WHEREAS, John Penn joined Local 362 of the Laborers'
International Union of North America (LiUNA!) in 1965 at the
age of 16; and
WHEREAS, John Penn rose through the ranks of his union,
serving Laborers as secretary-treasurer and business manager
of LiUNA! Local 362 in McLean County; and
WHEREAS, Under John Penn's leadership, LiUNA! Local 362
grew significantly, giving a voice to scores of workers who
previously had never benefited from union representation; and
WHEREAS, In response to several tragic accidents, John
Penn stopped all highway construction in McLean County to
force the State of Illinois to improve protections for
vulnerable workers on the State's roadways, an effort that
culminated in the creation of the State's Work Zone Safety
Committee and implementation of numerous policies and actions
that saved countless lives; and

HR0013 - 2 - LRB103 25642 MST 51991 r
WHEREAS, John Penn's role in representing LiUNA! members
continually expanded, becoming business manager of the
36-county North Central Illinois Laborers' District Council,
business manager of the four-state Great Plains Laborers'
District Council, and, ultimately, vice president and regional
manager of LiUNA!'s 10-state Midwest Region and a member of
the international union's General Executive Board; and
WHEREAS, John Penn was a tireless advocate for his members
during his 49 years of service, typically beginning his work
several hours before the sun would rise; and
WHEREAS, In addition to John Penn's commitment to his
members, he managed to volunteer his time, talents, and
organizing skills to numerous projects and programs that
improved not only the greater Bloomington-Normal area but all
of Illinois, including the United Way of McLean County, the
Children's Christmas Party for Unemployed Families, and the
McLean County Promise Council; and
WHEREAS, John Penn has been a member of the Special
Olympics Illinois Board of Directors and has recruited dozens
of LiUNA! Local 362 members to volunteer at the Special
Olympics State Games every year for more than 40 years; and

HR0013 - 3 - LRB103 25642 MST 51991 r
WHEREAS, John Penn is a proud veteran of the United States
Air Force having served in South Korea, Vietnam, and Guam; and
WHEREAS, The issues faced by veterans of all branches of
our nation's armed forces have long been a concern of John Penn
and prompted him to establish the Midwest Region Veterans'
Committee and encourage all LiUNA! local unions to create
veterans' committees of their own; and
WHEREAS, John Penn was a 2022 inductee to the Illinois
Labor History Society's Union Hall of Honor, was honored by
the Bloomington Pantagraph as its 2003 Person of the Year, and
received a Thousand Points of Light Foundation award from
President Bill Clinton in 1997 on behalf of his volunteer
efforts and those of all Bloomington-Normal building
tradespeople; and
WHEREAS, John Penn has been a devoted husband of 55 years
to his wife, Mary, a loving father to their daughter, Shawn,
and doting grandfather of three and great-grandfather of five;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate John F. Penn on his retirement and commend him
for his decades of service to the members of LiUNA!, his

HR0013 - 4 - LRB103 25642 MST 51991 r
community, and his country; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to John Penn as a symbol of our esteem and respect.