SR0644 LRB095 20763 GRL 49324 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Leon Finney Sr. of Chicago, who passed
4 away on April 4, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was born in 1916 in Mississippi;
6 he was the son of successful funeral home operator T.J.
7 Huddleston; he moved to Chicago, where his aunt, Bertha Brody,
8 lived; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was the founder and owner of the
10 Leon's Bar-B-Q chain; he founded the business in 1942, after
11 the police broke up a bookie joint in the basement of a
12 barbecue shop on East Garfield Boulevard in Chicago; after the
13 raid, the owner offered to sell the barbecue restaurant for
14 $700, the price of the refrigerator; after his father wired him
15 the money, he opened Leon's Bar-B-Q, which has since become a
16 staple of Chicago's culinary history and is particularly known
17 for its tangy and sweet barbeque sauce; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was active in running his popular
19 chain of restaurants until his health began to decline; and
 
20     WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was an active advocate of
21 African-American business and community organizations, helping

 

 

SR0644 - 2 - LRB095 20763 GRL 49324 r

1 numerous African-Americans create many businesses in the City
2 of Chicago and beyond; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. is survived by his six children,
4 Rev. Leon Finney Jr., Gwendlyn Woods, Michael, Michelle, Andre,
5 and Zenobia Rene; and his nine grandchildren; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. will be remembered by all who knew
7 and loved him for his dedication to his profession and his
8 willingness to help his fellow entrepreneurs; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
10 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
11 his family and friends, the passing of Leon Finney Sr.; and be
12 it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to the family of Leon Finney Sr. as an expression of
15 our sympathy.