As a way to pay tribute to former Coal City Police Chief and Fire Captain Dennis Neary, State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) hosted a ceremony Wednesday, September 14 at the Campbell Memorial Park in Coal City to officially name a section of Route 113 as the “Dennis M. Neary Memorial Highway.”
“When I was first asked to carry legislation to rename this portion of Route 113 in honor of Dennis, I knew it was absolutely the right thing to do for his family, this community, and his legacy,” said Sen. Rezin. “Throughout his career and life, Dennis Neary was the personification of a true public servant. Dennis was a pillar of the Coal City community for decades and it is my hope that the Dennis M. Neary Memorial Highway will continue to keep his name and legacy alive for many more decades.”
Sen. Rezin and State Representative David Welter (R-Morris) sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 6, which names Route 113 from Carbon Hill Road to Virginia Street in Coal City as the “Dennis M. Neary Memorial Highway.”
“It gave me great honor and satisfaction that Senator Rezin and Representative Welter were able to pass the resolution to get Route 113 from Carbon Hill Road to Virginia Street named the Dennis M. Neary Memorial Highway,” said Coal City Police Chief Christopher R. Harseim. “With his commitment to public service at the Coal City Police Department for over 35 years and the Coal City Fire Department for 35 years, his entire life was spent serving others in our community of Coal City. What a fitting memorial to the Neary family. I owe my entire law enforcement career to Chief Neary as he was a great chief, leader, and mentor to me. It was a very proud day for the Neary family and the citizens of Coal City.”
The ceremony included remarks from Sen. Rezin, Police Chief Harseim, Coal City Mayor Terry Halliday, Illinois Association of Police Chiefs Chief Lou Jogman, and Lisa Neary-Callaway, sister of Dennis Neary. The ceremony concluded with a sign presentation to the Neary family and a social hour with first responders.