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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of George 
4"Joe" Pearson, who passed away on February 11, 2014; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, George "Joe" Pearson was born in Harrisburg on 
6December 30, 1948; he earned his bachelor's degree and his 
7masters's degree from Southern Illinois University and married 
8Pamela Seright; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, In 1976, George "Joe" Pearson opened the Village 
10Pump Restaurant, Bar, and Hotel with his brother; he also 
11opened Pearson Jewelry before joining the Arclar Company in 
121987 and soon became the preeminent coal salesman in the United 
13States; he was instrumental in seeing Arclar grow from 19 
14employees, producing 200,000 tons of coal per year, to 600 
15employees, producing 6,000,000 tons per year; he was also a 
16partner in Power Inc., a coal loading facility in Shawneetown 
17and served as President of Eagle River Coal LLC in Mitcheville; 
18he served as Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Coal Association, 
19Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Illinois Department of 
20Natural Resources, board member of the Illinois Coal Council, 
21and board member of the Illinois Coal Development Board; he was 
22known around the Illinois State Capital as "the face of coal"; 
23and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, In addition to his work in coal, George "Joe" 
2Pearson became part owner of Farmers State Bank in Alto Pass in 
31994; he aided its expansion to additional cities and remained 
4on the Board of Directors following the selling of his shares; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, George "Joe" Pearson was a member of the First 
7United Methodist Church; he provided scholarships and 
8supported local ball teams and was very supportive of his 
9community; and
 
  
10    WHEREAS, George "Joe" Pearson is survived by his wife, 
11Pamela; his brothers, John "Spider" (Pam) Pearson and Jim 
12(Suzie) Pearson; his niece, Stephanie (Gene) Wise; his 
13great-nephew, Dillon Wise; and his nephews, David (Kendra) 
14Pearson and Mike Pearson; therefore, be it
  
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
16NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
17we mourn the passing of George "Joe" Pearson, and extend our 
18sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew 
19and loved him; and be it further
  
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
21presented to the family of George  "Joe" Pearson as an 
 
 
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1expression of our deepest sympathy.