RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, James J. O'Connor, one of Chicago's most prominent business and civic leaders, will officially step down as President of the 100 Club of Chicago on November 13, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the 100 Club of Chicago is to help provide for the surviving spouses and dependents of first responders who lose their lives in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception more than 48 years ago, the One-Hundred Club of Chicago has assisted 256 families and provided more than $9 million in financial and educational support; and
WHEREAS, A forty-year member of the Board of Directors of the 100 Club of Chicago, James J. O'Connor is a Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Unicom Corporation and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Edison Company; and
WHEREAS, An active and highly valued community leader, James J. O'Connor he is a Life Trustee and Past Chairman of the Board of the Field Museum of Natural History, a Director and Past Chairman of the Chicago Urban League and a former Chairman of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, James J. O'Connor's impressive and wide range of civic involvement has also included roles as Past President of Catholic Charities, a trustee of The Adler Planetarium, the Chicago Symphony, the Lyric Opera, the Museum of Science and Industry, Northwestern University and a Life Trustee of Saint Xavier University; and
WHEREAS, James J. O'Connor was elected to the Chicago Business Hall of Fame in 1987, received the Daniel Burnham Award from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce in 1994 and was the recipient of the "Making History Award" from the Chicago History Museum for Distinction in Corporate Leadership and Innovation in 2004; and
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WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of James J. O'Connor serve as an example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this fifth day of November, 2014, do hereby express our sincere gratitude to James J. O'Connor on his dedicated service on behalf of the 100 Club of Chicago and do hereby declare that November 13, 2014, shall be officially recognized as James J. O'Connor Day throughout the City of Chicago; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to James J. O'Connor.
Alderman - 14th Ward