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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell, President of Local 881 of the 
3United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) 
4retired on December 1, 2018 after 57 and a half years of 
5dedicated service to the working men and women in Illinois; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell honorably served his country in 
7the United States Army and studied at Northern Illinois 
8University before starting his career at the Jewel Tea Company 
9in DeKalb, where he led the first recognition strike against 
10the company; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell then joined the staff of Local 
12881, formerly the United Retail Workers Union, Independent, and 
13served the union as a Field Representative, Director of Field 
14Operations, Vice President of the Executive Board, and 
15Secretary-Treasurer; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell was elected to the office of 
17President in 1983 and, to date, has been the longest-serving 
18Constitutional Officer of Local 881; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell was elected as a Vice President 
20of the Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board in 1986, serving as a 
21leading voice in its governance under five Illinois AFL-CIO 
 
 
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1Presidents; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell has dedicated his career to the 
3rights of union members and workers throughout Illinois and 
4Northwest Indiana and, under his steadfast leadership, has 
5helped countless workers find their voice on the job; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Ronald E. Powell also served his community as a 
7Village of Mundelein Trustee and, through his philanthropic 
8endeavors, has raised hundreds of thousands for dollars for the 
9Better Boys Foundation, the United Way, and the Leukemia and 
10Lymphoma Society; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
12HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
13we congratulate Ronald E. Powell on his retirement as President 
14of Local 881 UFCW, and we wish him all the best in all his 
15future endeavors; and be it further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to Ronald E. Powell as an expression of our respect 
18and esteem.