HR0781 LRB094 16128 HSS 51368 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Reverend M. Earle Sardon has served the people of
3 the City of Chicago in ministry for 60 years; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Following valiant service in World War II as a
5 member of the U.S. Army, Reverend Sardon returned home to
6 Chicago to fight, through non-violent protests, for the rights
7 of his fellow African Americans; in 1946, he organized the
8 Civil Rights Program, published and edited the Crusader
9 newspaper, campaigned against Wonder Bread Company, and placed
10 the first African-American bread truck driver salesman; by
11 1947, all of the bread companies had African-American drivers;
12 and
 
13     WHEREAS, The fight went on to cover cake, pie, cookie, and
14 laundry truck drivers, whiskey and wine salesmen, and beer
15 companies; in 1949, he opened Andy Frain Co., which placed
16 black ushers at sporting events for the first time; he helped
17 to organize the black garbage truck company owners and led
18 efforts to increase their business; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The civil rights movement marched on to include a
20 campaign against Agar Meat Packers, A&P Stores, First National
21 Bank in downtown Chicago, Brinks Money Transport Company,
22 Greyhound Bus Co., El Produto Cigar Co., and ice cream
23 companies; during 1961 and 1962, Rev. Sardon joined the efforts
24 of Dr. Martin Luther King in Georgia, Washington, D.C., and
25 Chicago; throughout the years, he was arrested for his efforts
26 for civil rights; and
 
27     WHEREAS, The Crusaders of Justice was organized in 1978, a
28 group which worked tirelessly to help those less fortunate; and
 
29     WHEREAS, Rev. Sardon went on to serve on the Citizens
30 Utility Board, appointed by Governor James Thompson; he helped

 

 

HR0781 - 2 - LRB094 16128 HSS 51368 r

1 organize and served as chairman of the Illinois Committee of
2 Churches for Religious Freedom and traveled to every state
3 speaking and organizing for religious freedom; he also
4 organized a State financed homeless shelter and worked to
5 create and maintain a drug prevention program; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Rev. Sardon was appointed Director of Americorps'
7 VISTA program site in Chicago in 2003 under the direction of
8 the U.S. Department of Labor; he continues to serve as pastor
9 of Holiness Community Temple, President of the Crusaders of
10 Justice, and as a lecturer, counselor, and crisis mediator;
11 therefore, be it
 
12     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14 we thank Reverend M. Earle Sardon, pastor of Holiness Community
15 Temple, for his tireless devotion to civil rights and the needs
16 of others through his ministry spanning 60 years; and be it
17 further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to Reverend Sardon as an expression of our respect
20 and esteem.