IL HR1341

Illinois House of Representatives mourns the death of Joseph J. "Joe" "Mr. Fourth of July" Marino of Rockford, who passed away on November 21, 2018.

Marino served in the United States Navy during World War II on the destroyer USS Henderson in the South Pacific and was honorably discharged July 24, 1946.

Marino chaired the Rockford Fourth of July Committee since 1963, transforming the city's fireworks display into one of Illinois's largest and once took a second mortgage on his house to fund the fireworks show.

Marino was officially recognized as "Mr. Fourth of July" by Mayor John McNamara on July 2, 1981, and was honored by President Ronald Reagan; a life-size bronzed statue was placed in Joe Marino Park in early 2010.

Illinois House extends sincere condolences to Marino's family and directs a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to his family.