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91_HR0249
LRB9106724CBcb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of this Body were saddened to learn
3 of the death of John Bliven of Macomb on Friday, April 30,
4 1999; and
5 WHEREAS, He was born in Macomb on October 18, 1921, the
6 son of Lennis W. Bliven and Ollie M. Graves; he graduated
7 from Macomb High School in 1940; and
8 WHEREAS, He enrolled at Western Illinois University, but
9 with World War II in progress, in 1942 he enlisted in the
10 United States Coast Guard; serving as Boatswain's Mate 2nd
11 Class on U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sledge, he earned
12 Asiatic-Pacific and WWII Victory Medals; and
13 WHEREAS, He became a Macomb police officer in November of
14 1945 and a deputy sheriff of McDonough County in 1946; he was
15 first elected Sheriff in 1954; with the Sheriff unable by law
16 to succeed himself, he served as Chief Deputy in his
17 off-terms and was re-elected Sheriff every eligible election
18 until the law was changed in 1970; and
19 WHEREAS, John Bliven was the longest serving Sheriff in
20 Illinois history and the third longest in United States
21 history, having served a total of 32 years as sheriff, 49
22 continuous years in the Sheriff's Department of McDonough
23 County, and as Chief Deputy under 5 sheriffs; and
24 WHEREAS, He was a graduate of the Bolin Police Academy,
25 attended F.B.I. police seminars, studied criminal
26 investigation at the University of Iowa, attended Western
27 Illinois University seminars in the Law Enforcement Officer
28 Training School, and assisted WIU in the Law Enforcement
29 Administration Intern Program; and
30 WHEREAS, He was past president of the Frontier Division
31 of the Illinois Police Association, vice president of the
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1 Illinois Sheriff's Association, and president of the Illinois
2 Sheriff's Association; and
3 WHEREAS, He established the night patrol and assisted in
4 organizing the McDonough County Dive Rescue Team, DARE
5 Programs, council of the Macomb Area Chamber of Commerce, and
6 the College of Business at WIU; and
7 WHEREAS, He was a member of the American Legion U.S.
8 Pistol Championship Team Post No. 6 and a three-time winner
9 of the Illinois Sheriff's Association annual Sheriff's Pistol
10 Shoot, which resulted in his retiring the first cup
11 permanently; and
12 WHEREAS, He was affiliated with the following
13 organizations: Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion,
14 Macomb Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Consistory, Macomb
15 Commandery, International Association of Identification,
16 National Sheriff's Association, Illinois Sheriff's
17 Association, Illinois Police Association, WIU Leatherneck
18 Club, Ducks Unlimited, past president of Macomb Optimist
19 Club, National Association of Veteran Police Officers, and a
20 member of the First Christian Church, where he served as
21 Elder and Deacon; and
22 WHEREAS, The cornerstone of the new addition to the
23 McDonough County Jail was placed in his honor; he won the
24 Optimist Club "Respect for Law Award" and the Macomb Area
25 Chamber of Commerce/WIU Business Department Recognition
26 Award; John Bliven Day was declared on May 1, 1986 by Mayor
27 Anstine for 40 years in law enforcement and John Bliven Law
28 Enforcement Scholarships were established at WIU by friends
29 in 1994 and by Crime Stoppers in 1995; and
30 WHEREAS, His passing will be deeply felt by his family
31 and friends, especially his wife, Rachel; his daughters and
32 sons-in-law, Linda and Mark Andrews, Brenda and Jim Hoyt, and
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1 Janet and Larry Moore; and his 5 grandchildren; therefore, be
2 it
3 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5 we note with sorrow and regret the death of John Bliven and
6 extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and
7 be it further
8 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9 presented to his widow, Rachel Bliven.