HR0234

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are saddened to  learn of the death of
S.A. 
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"Jimmie" Harris of Winthrop, who passed away on March 24, 2009; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, S.A. Harris was born December 30, 1916 in Meade, 
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Kansas; and

 
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    WHEREAS, S.A. Harris operated Artesian Valley Creamery and 
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Produce Business in Harrington, Kansas; he came to Winthrop 
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Harbor in 1946 after serving six and a half years in the United 
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States Navy, serving both as a Recruiting Officer in Kansas 
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City, Missouri and Great Lakes, Illinois and overseas with 
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Joint Army-Navy Intelligence in the Pacific Ocean area; and

 
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    WHEREAS, S.A. Harris was employed as an auto dealer in 
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Winthrop Harbor from 1949 until 1976 and was a member of the 
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Dealer Advisory Board in Detroit, Michigan, where he 
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represented the Chicago area; and

 
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    WHEREAS, S.A. Harris was an active member of his community; 
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he served as a Precinct Committeeman; he was a member of the 
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Republican Federation for many years and also headed the local 
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Republican organization; he served as Chairman of the Winthrop 
 


 






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Harbor Planning Commission from 1958 to 1985; he was a board 
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member and Chairman of Lake County Planning Commission; he 
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spearheaded the establishment of the Winthrop Harbor Volunteer 
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Fire Department and helped create a street numbering system for 
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Winthrop Harbor; he organized and chartered the Winthrop Harbor 
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Lions Club in 1954 and remained active with a club membership 
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of 64; he was also a Past District Governor for Lions of 
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Illinois District 1-F from 1962 to 1963 and served as 
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International Convention Chairman for the Lions of Illinois 
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District 1-F for 25 years; and
 
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    WHEREAS, S.A. Harris served as President of the Winthrop 
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Harbor School Board; he was the President of the Zion-Winthrop 
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Harbor-Beach Park Chamber of Commerce; he was a board member 
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and past Chairman of Zion State Bank Board of Directors; he 
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served on the Board of First American Bank; he served as Benton 
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Township Clerk and was in charge of the Service Unit of 
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Salvation Army for 25 years; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Currently, S.A. Harris served as a board member 
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and Vice-President of Midwestern Regional Medical Center Board 
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of Trustees, where he served for 25 years; he was Chairman of 
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the Village of Winthrop Harbor Economic Development Committee 
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and the Winthrop Harbor Citizens Police Committee; he was an 
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active member of First Christian Church of Kenosha, Wisconsin 
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since 1950; he also managed Harris Enterprises in Winthrop 
 


 






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Harbor and was an Associate Member of the Winthrop Harbor 
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Chamber of Commerce; and

 
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    WHEREAS, S.A. Harris is survived by his loving wife of 66 
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years, Mary; his children, James Randy (Linda) Harris, Linda 
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(Edward) Isom-Burge, and Patti (Douglas) Gross; and his seven 
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grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of S.A. 
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"Jimmie" Harris; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of S.A. "Jimmie" Harris as an 
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expression of our sympathy.