Bill Text: IL HR0234 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Cyril "Pete" Korte on receiving the 2019 Homer Poss Lifetime Achievement Award and thanks him for all the hard work he has done for his community.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-29 - Resolution Adopted [HR0234 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HR0234-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives wish to congratulate Cyril "Pete" Korte on
receiving the 2019 Homer Poss Lifetime Achievement Award; and
WHEREAS, The Homer Poss Lifetime Achievement Award is
presented by the Highland Chamber of Commerce to an individual
who has made a significant positive impact on the Highland
community through their past achievements over a long period of
time and who has enhanced the quality of life for Highland-area
residents; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte was born and raised in a devout
Catholic family in Damiansville, the 11th of 12 children born
to Ben and Mary Korte; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte came from humble beginnings; he grew up
very poor but worked very hard on the family farm as a young
boy and teenager; with an ailing father, two sisters in the
Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood Order, and four brothers
in the service, he was left to run the family farm at 14; he
attended Damiansville Elementary School and Aviston High
School; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte landed his first job in Highland at

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Basler Electric when he was 16 years old; he joined the U.S.
Army Reserve when he was 19; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte and Jane were just kids when they first
met, which was through courtships and marriages between their
siblings; two of Pete's sisters, Alvina and Alice, married two
of Jane's brothers, Francis and John; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte and Jane married in 1958, and he says
she truly is the love of his life, his rock and his foundation;
and
WHEREAS, With a small loan from his father-in-law and the
little savings he had, Pete Korte bought a backhoe and started
doing small jobs around Highland and neighboring towns; soon
after, he joined forces with his brother-in-law, Joe Luitjohan,
and they formed a brother-like-union, working countless hours
side-by-side; in 1960, he and Joe joined the Operating
Engineers Local 520 with cards numbers 39 and 40; over the
years, they broadened their project scope to include roadwork,
bridgework, and building demolition; today, as a full-service
general contractor and design builder, their business is unique
in that it still performs much of its own excavating work; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte has been one of Highland's hardest
workers and very industrious over the years; his business

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ventures included a tree moving business, a strawberry farm, a
subdivision development, crane hoisting services, the Beagle
Inn Bar and Grill, and mini warehouses; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte was the brainchild behind Windows on
Broadway, a unique business in Highland that houses not just an
antique store but also a venue space for intimate events; and
WHEREAS, Since early in his adult life, Pete Korte has been
involved in many civic organizations, including the Knights of
Columbus and the Highland Jaycees; he was a volunteer fire
fighter for the City of Highland, which he joined together with
his brother-in-law, Joe; he believes the Highland Jaycees and
being a fire fighter provided him with structure and strength,
which taught him many life lessons; and
WHEREAS, As a Jaycee, Pete Korte spent many years and long
hours setting up and tearing down the Highland Homecoming; Jane
and his kids were by his side through much of his work; as vice
president and chairman of the Highland Jaycees, they earned the
#1 Chapter for Highland both years; he enjoyed his work life
and giving back was his second nature; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte devoted himself to his church, St.
Paul; he was in the choir and served as Kirchenfest Chairman in
1976, the same year he also chaired the Highland Homecoming on

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the square, donating equipment, labor and materials when
needed; he donated equipment, labor, and many loads of rock for
the 2017 renovations of the Knights of Columbus baseball
diamonds; and
WHEREAS, Pete Korte's spirit of giving and dedication to
his church and community has certainly filtered down to his
children, as they give back to their own churches and
communities; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate Cyril "Pete" Korte on receiving the 2019 Homer
Poss Lifetime Achievement Award and thank him for all the hard
work he has done for his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Pete Korte as a symbol of our respect and esteem.