[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE SERVICE OF MATTHEW PARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2017

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Matthew 
Parker of Rock Island, Illinois, who devoted his life to serving his 
country and community, and who sadly passed away in August of last 
year.
  Matthew served in the Navy during World War II. After his service in 
the Navy, he worked at IH Farmall in Rock Island for 39 years and also 
operated his own business, Parker Janitorial Services, with his wife, 
Katherine, for 33 years. He served as a trustee for Rock Island 
Township for more than 35 years. He was also a member of the Rock 
Island County NAACP and the Martin Luther King Center Active Club, 
among several other organizations. Matthew was civically engaged as a 
precinct committeeman for 23 years, and was a longtime community 
activist.
  During his life, Matthew was honored numerous times for his 
dedication to service. In 2005, Matthew Parker was awarded the John 
Williams Community Award for his contributions in making the region a 
better place to live. In 2008 he received the Excellence in Public 
Service Award from Township Officials of Illinois for his work in the 
Rock Island Township. Most recently, in September 2017 the Matthew 
Parker Gardens were dedicated at Rock Island Township's 2nd Annual 
Township Days to honor Matthew for his decades of service as a trustee.
  It is because of dedicated and selfless leaders such as Matthew 
Parker that I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional 
District. Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally recognize the 
late Matthew Parker on his extraordinary work and service in our 
community.

                          ____________________