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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Harold A. "Pete" Vonachen Jr. of Peoria, 
4who passed away on June 10, 2013; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen Jr. was born on August 31, 1925, 
6in Peoria to Dr. Harold A. and Bernice (Verner) Vonachen; he 
7served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and upon returning 
8attended Bradley University, graduating in 1949; he married 
9Donna J. Hurst on May 11, 1957, in Peoria; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen Jr. began his business career by 
11working in the food industry, taking a part-time job running 
12Field House concessions at Bradley University; he moved to 
13Murphy's in 1953, where he worked as a maitre'd; in 1955, he 
14opened his own business, Vonachen's Junction in the Junction 
15City shopping area; he began to branch out from the food 
16industry and from 1965 to 1976 served as the general manager 
17and investor in Vonachen's Hyatt Lodge; he sold the restaurant 
18in 1970 and became president of Peoria Blacktop Inc.; in 1978, 
19he became the general partner and developer for Days Inn Motel 
20in Peoria until 1985; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen Jr.'s baseball career began in 
221983 when he purchased the Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball 
 
 
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1team; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen Jr. lifetime achievements 
3consisted of commodore and board of directors for the Illinois 
4Valley Yacht and Canoe Club, president of the Peoria Pacers 
5College Baseball Team, director of the Greater Peoria Sports 
6Hall of Fame, director of the Peoria Cerebral Palsy Board, 
7board member of the St. Thomas Parochial School Board, 
8president and member of the advisory board of OSF St. Francis 
9Medical Center, vice-president and trustee of the Peoria Park 
10District, chairman of the Liquor Commission for the City of 
11Peoria, member of the State of Illinois Recreational Advisory 
12Committee, board member of the Bradley University Chiefs' Club, 
13honorary member of the Bradley University B-Club, director and 
14president of Peoria Mobile Medic Ambulance Co., member of the 
15board of trustees for Bradley University, chairman of the 
16Salvation Army Tree of Lights, honorary chairman of the 
17Children's Miracle Network Telethon at the Children's Hospital 
18of Illinois, board member for the Children's Hospital of 
19Illinois, member of the Ivy Club, member of the Peoria Country 
20Club, and member of the Independent Sports Club; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen Jr. was awarded the Neve Harms 
22Meritorious Service Sports Award in 1979, inducted into the 
23Greater Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, awarded the Bradley 
24University Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985, the Sporting 
 
 
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1News Professional Baseball Class A Minor League Executive of 
2the Year in 1985, the Midwest League Executive of the Year in 
31985, the Tri-County Sports Figure of the Year in 1985, the 
4Bradley University Centurion in 1986, the University of Notre 
5Dame Man of the Year in 1988, inducted into the Greater Peoria 
6Sports Hall of Fame in 1988, awarded the Caterpillar Community 
7Service Award, the Salvation Army "Other" Award in 1991, the 
8Lewis Burger Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Award in 1992, 
9the National Society of Fundraising Executives Philanthropy 
10Award in 1992, inducted into the Bradley University Sports Hall 
11of Fame in 1994, awarded the Robert H. Michael Lifetime 
12Achievement Award in 2002, the Ambassador of Baseball-State of 
13Illinois' Chicago Pitch and Hit Club Award in 2005, the Lions 
14Club Outstanding Achievement Award in 2008, and the Lifetime 
15Achievement Award for J.J. Anderson Basketball Club in 2009; 
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen Jr. was preceded in death by his 
18wife, Donna; his parents; his brothers, Jack and Tom; and his 
19sisters, Mary Ann, Bobbie, and Marta; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Harold Vonachen Jr. is survived by his daughter, 
21Mary "Mikie" Shadid; his sons, Rocky, Greg (Kathy), Dan 
22(Jennifer), and Mark (Amy); his sister, Susie (Jim) Dawson; and 
23his grandchildren, Megan Vonachen, Lauren Shadid, Abby 
24Vonachen, Erica Vonachen, Claire Vonachen, Michelle Vonachen, 
 
 
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1Druschel Vonachen, Olivia Vonachen, Jabe Vonachen, Natalie 
2Vonachen, and Jac Vonachen; therefore, be it
  
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL 
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
5Harold Vonachen Jr., and extend our sincere condolences to his 
6family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
7further
  
 
8    RESOLVED, That suitable copy of this resolution be 
9presented to the family of Harold Vonachen Jr. as an expression 
10of our deepest sympathy.