HR0572 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0572 LRB100 13773 MST 28495 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the life of Grandmaster Stan McKinney; and

WHEREAS, Grandmaster McKinney is a 9th degree black belt; he began his studies of the martial arts in the 1960s in Chicago; he obtained his 1st Dan black belt in Shorei Goju Karate in 1970; later, he received his black belt in Kenpo Karate; he has studied Hapkido Karate, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Gung Fu, Wing Chung, and Kung Fu; and

WHEREAS, Grandmaster McKinney has taught and lived in the Uptown community for 10 years and worked as a community activist since the 1970s; he has operated martial arts classes for the Chicago Park District and schools around the city that enable students to obtain credit for their studies; he has opened 10 dojos, trained thousands of students, and promoted six black belts; and

WHEREAS, Grandmaster McKinney is a Midwest heavyweight top ten point fighter champion; he has received Midwest official referee judge of the year from 1995 to 1998; he was appointed regional director of the United Martial Arts Association and inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame by the US Federation of Pankration Athlima (USAFPA); twice, he won the American Karate Association nationals and has been a midwest circuit seniors top ten fighter for five straight years; and

WHEREAS, Grandmaster McKinney continues to work in the community, teaching martial arts for free to many youth across the City of Chicago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the life of Grandmaster Stan McKinney and thank him for his commitment to his community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Grandmaster McKinney as a symbol of our respect and esteem.