Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0236
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Full Text of HR0236  100th General Assembly

HR0236 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
HR0236LRB100 11962 MST 23831 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate
3Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men,
4was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven
5college men who recognized the need for a strong bond of
6brotherhood among African descendants in the United States; the
7visionary founders are known as the "Jewels" of the fraternity;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, The fraternity initially served as a study and
10support group for minority students who faced racial prejudice,
11both educationally and socially, at Cornell; the Jewel founders
12and early leaders of the fraternity succeeded in laying a firm
13foundation for Alpha Phi Alpha's principles of scholarship,
14fellowship, good character, and the uplifting of humanity; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha chapters were established at other
16colleges and universities; the first alumni chapter was
17established in 1911; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The roots of Tau Chapter are based in the 1915
19founding of the Beta Pi Fraternity; the Ninth Convention of
20Alpha Phi Fraternity, Inc. elected to induct the members of
21Beta Pi into the fraternity as its 18th undergraduate chapter;
22and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The Tau Chapter at the University of Illinois was
2installed on March 23, 1917 by Brother George P. Hinton of Pi
3Chapter; the first President of Tau Chapter was George A.
4Ferguson; charter members were H.K. Barnett, Benjamin C.
5Duster, Lewis Giles, Clifton Hardy, R.E. Mizell, E.J. Powell,
6Theodore Roane, W.H. Sutton, Ross Taylor, and A.E. Woodruff;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Many notable Tau Chapter alumni were leaders in
9the fields of public service, education, and business,
10including Richard Harewod, the first African American elected
11State Representative; Clifton Hardy, the first African
12American to graduate from the University of Chicago School of
13Business Administration in 1921; William L. Camfield, the first
14African American to receive a Ph.D. in accountancy at the
15University of Illinois; and Charles E. McGee, a Tuskegee Airman
16in the 332nd who holds the record of 409 fighter combat
17missions flown during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam; he was
18inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2011; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. recognized the
20need to help correct the educational, economic, political, and
21social injustices faced by African Americans; Alpha develops
22leaders, promotes brotherhood and economic excellence, while
23providing service and advocacy for their communities; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The 18th House of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
2known as Too Tuff Tau, is celebrating its 100th anniversary at
3the University of Illinois; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
5HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
6recognize the 100th anniversary of the Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi
7Alpha at the University of Illinois, and we wish them many more
8wonderful years; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at the
11University of Illinois.