2014 -- S 2844

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LC005349

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING JOHN R. DIONNE ON BEING NAMED A 2014 INDUCTEE INTO

THE RHODE ISLAND HERITAGE HALL OF FAME

     Introduced By: Senators Cote, and Picard

     Date Introduced: April 01, 2014

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Founded in 1965, the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame annually honors

those individuals whose contributions have enhanced the heritage of the State of Rhode Island.

Eligible members must be native Rhode Islanders or those who have adopted the Ocean State as

their permanent home; and

     WHEREAS, One of this year's venerable inductees is John R. Dionne, a man who has

spent the better part of five decades volunteering and contributing his time, energy and talents in

public service to a panoply of civic and charitable organizations throughout the state; and

     WHEREAS, John Dionne was born in Woonsocket, a city he loves dearly and has served

in many roles. He was a member of the City Council for ten years, six of them as President, and

was director of public safety for five years. He was also the manager of the Board of Canvassers

for seven years and Director of Human Services for one year; and

     WHEREAS, As a young man, Mr. Dionne had dropped out of high school in the 11th

grade and joined the United States Navy. With honor and distinction, he served four years of

active duty and four years in inactive reserves, and earned his GED from the Rhode Island

Department of Education. He was later employed for twenty-five years with the Marquette Credit

Union and worked as senior vice president of marketing and public relations and president of

Marquette Travel Services; and

     WHEREAS, Altruistic and tireless, Mr. Dionne has served as chair of the Milk Fund for

fourteen years and as co-chair for twenty-five years. He was a past board member of the Girl

Scouts of Rhode Island, United Cerebral Palsy of Rhode Island, the Greater Woonsocket

Chamber of Commerce and Woonsocket Family & Child Services, and was a past president of

Muscular Dystrophy of Rhode Island, the Greater Woonsocket Visiting Nurses Association, and

the Blackstone Valley for Blind Association, to name but a few of his many contributions; and

     WHEREAS, Also active in myriad community organizations, Mr. Dionne has been

commander of the St. Joseph Veterans Association, served as president of the Woonsocket and

Rhode Island Jaycees, and held numerous leadership positions with the state and national Jaycee

organizations. He is a member of the Woonsocket Lodge of Elks #850, the Grand Knight of

Keough Council Knights of Columbus, and the General Moylan 4th Degree Knights of

Columbus. He had also previously served as a member of the Woonsocket Rotary Club, president

of the Woonsocket Lions Club, board member of the Woonsocket Kiwanis Club, member of the

St. Joseph’s Parish Council, president of the Catholic Young Adult Council of the Diocese of

Providence, and a board member of the Northern R.I. C.Y.O.; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Dionne has earned his reputation for

excellence and dedication to others. Being an inductee into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of

Fame is a momentous tribute to this exceptional gentleman who is truly a role model worthy of

our recognition and emulation; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby joins his wife, Jeannine, his children, Michelle Trupke, Elizabeth Rondeau, Catherine

Dionne, and John J. Dionne and his multitude of friends and admirers in congratulating and

honoring John Dionne on his induction into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. We wish

him good health, much happiness, and continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. John R. Dionne.

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LC005349

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