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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate the Reverend Johnny L. 
4McGowan on being installed as the Pastor of Gayles Memorial 
5Baptist Church in Aurora on October 1, 2017; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan was born to Percy and Lillie Bell 
7McGowan in Utica, Mississippi, one of 15 siblings; he was 
8baptized at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Utica at the 
9age of 13; as a young man, he attended church services 
10regularly, receiving biblical training from Sunday school and 
11other ministries within the church; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan moved to Aurora in July of 1973; he 
13worked at Nicor Gas, retiring after 27 years of service as a 
14manager for the Quality Assessor for the Illinois region; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan became a member of Gayles Memorial 
16Baptist Church in November of 1981; he served as treasurer from 
171985 through 2008 and was ordained as a deacon in March of 
181994; he was ordained and licensed as a minister on August 14, 
192011; he served as an associate minister from August of 2011 
20through March of 2016; he received his Bachelor of Theology and 
21served as interim pastor from April of 2016 through May of 
222017; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan has assisted in organizing the 
2Community Neighborhood Outreach through the City of Aurora 
3Neighborhood along with the Neighborhood Night Out program, 
4which encourages the community to come together to promote 
5unity within a multi-cultural environment; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Pastor McGowan has been happily married to his 
7high school sweetheart, Hazel, for 43 years; he is the father 
8of two sons, Jeffrey (Julita) and Reginald (Hope), and one 
9daughter, Rachelle (Joe); he is also the grandfather of nine 
10and great-grandfather of one; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
12HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
13congratulate the Reverend Johnny L. McGowan on being installed 
14as the Pastor of Gayles Memorial Baptist Church, and we wish 
15him many successful years; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to Pastor McGowan as an expression of our esteem and 
18respect.