By Dave Allison
Local resident’s will honor Pastor Herbert Brooks, Jr. in a tribute to his service and dedication to the growth and development of the community for the past 33 years.
Brooks was elected to represent Dist. 8 as a member of the Will County Board from 2008 until 2022. He is also the senior pastor of St. John Church, in Joliet Township. I was “totally surprised by the honor,” Pastor Brooks said.
“I’ve never asked anybody to hold a tribute for me,” Pastor Brooks told The Times Weekly. “Other churches hold pastor appreciation events. I’ve always discouraged them on my behalf. I’ve always felt that it was an honor, a privilege and a duty to serve the public and I’ve never sought any personal gain or praise for doing it.”
There is a litany of issues that Pastor Brooks has been involved in, from the creation of new schools to the new Joliet Courthouse. “So many people who are my critics say they can’t see the results of what I have done, that’s because these are things that are happening around them every day, that I have been advocating for on a continuing basis. A lot of these things happened behind the scenes over a long period of time. Often they materialize without fanfare and I’m not one to grandstand in order to take credit.”
The Community Gala honoring Pastor Herbert Brooks, Jr. is on Saturday, March 25th at 6pm at The Royal Palace Event Centre, Joliet, IL. Donations can be sent to Herbert Brooks Jr. at 104 E. Zarley Blvd. Joliet, Il. Or on the web at stjohnchurchjolietil.com.