County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Submits Three Resolutions During April County Board Meeting
County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Submits Three Resolutions During April County Board Meeting (Cook County, IL) — On Thursday, April 27th, during the Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar proposed three resolutions to be adopted by the County Board. The first honored the late Chicago Pastor Rich Schuler. The second honored the late Mexican entertainer Xavier Lopez Rodriguez, also known as Chabelo. The final resolution adopted April as Arab American Heritage Month in Cook County.
On February 9, 2023, at the age of 68, Pastor Richard L. Schuler, better known as Pastor Rich, passed away. Pastor Rich was a devout, lifelong follower of Christ, showing kindness and love to all who had the pleasure of meeting him. He was honest, caring, generous and was always present and willing to help in his community. In 2021, Pastor Rich got to live up to his full potential in the church when he had the immense honor of becoming an ordained pastor in the ECO, followed by becoming the pastor at CrossRoads Community Church.
Xavier López Rodríguez, better known as the Mexican children’s entertainer Chabelo, was born in Cook County on February 17th, 1935. He and his family settled in León, Guanajuato before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he served honorably.
Rodriguez began working in the entertainment industry and created the longest running Mexican television show in history, the variety show “En Familia con Chabelo,” running for 48 years from 1967 to 2015. Xavier López Rodríguez’s signature raspy, child-like voice helped usher in a genre of adult comics dressed as kids that became a staple on Mexican television for decades. Xavier López Rodríguez encompassed the spirit of Chicano culture and modern history that has found a home here in Cook County.
In December of 2018, The Illinois General Assembly unanimously adopted a State Law designating the month of April as Arab American Heritage month. The State of Illinois has more than 450,000 citizens who are of Arab heritage, originating primarily from Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and 15 other Arab World countries, with the largest population living in Cook County.
Arab Americans in Cook County are proud Americans who have served this country in the U.S. Military in every war since the Civil War. Arab Americans in Cook County are proud citizens who pay their taxes, manage successful businesses and work in a wide range of blue collar and white collar professions including doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, journalists, public officials, grocery and retail store owners, union activists, and educators.
“As Cook County Commissioner, it is my honor to highlight the many incredible people who make up our district,” said Commissioner Aguilar. “Thank you to Pastor Rich for bringing compassion and generosity to the community. Xavier Lopez Rodriguez will always be remembered for bringing smiles to children and adults throughout North America. Arab Americans have continuously strengthened the state of Illinois and Cook County. Thank you to the Board for adopting these resolutions and helping highlight what makes the 16th district so admirable.”
County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Submits Three Resolutions During April County Board Meeting
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