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HR0282 |
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LRB094 11822 CSA 44149 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, Jack King, a Chicago firefighter, took a |
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| disability pension from the fire department in 1980 as a result |
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| of lung damage from fighting fires; and
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| WHEREAS, At the same time, he checked himself into a |
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| halfway house in Maywood for a year to overcome his drinking |
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| problem; he attributes the halfway house with saving his life; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, He was born on November 9, 1930; he had five |
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| brothers, Bill, Tom, Mike, Buddy, Jimmy (deceased), and one |
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| sister, Dee Dee; his mother passed away when he was 13 years |
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| old and he worked as well as went to school; after serving with |
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| the Navy, he became a Chicago firefighter, as did his five |
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| brothers; at one time, Mr. King and all of his brothers served |
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| on the Chicago Fire Department; and
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| WHEREAS, He married and had eight children, Kathy, Kelly, |
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| Eileen, Colleen, John, Jerry, Patty, and Maureen; and
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| WHEREAS, In 1987, Jack King opened Guildhaus to help fellow |
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| alcoholics; he sought the help of the Mayor of Blue Island and |
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| knocked on 250 doors in the neighborhood to educate people |
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| about the halfway house; the Guildhaus opened with beds for 17 |
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| residents and now holds 33 men; there are also two recovery |
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| homes located in Blue Island that hold a total of 24 men; and
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| WHEREAS, Over the past 17 years, he has helped thousands of |
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| men find their way to a sober, productive life; he has given up |
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| a big part of his own personal life because of his dedication |
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| to Guildhaus; although he is now retired, he will remain an |
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| integral part of Guildhaus; Mr. King will also remain a member |
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| of the Illinois Association of Extended Care and the American |
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| Halfway House Association Program; and
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