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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Richard Gordon Hatcher, who passed away 
4on December 13, 2019; and
  
 
  
5    WHEREAS, Richard Hatcher was born in Michigan City, Indiana 
6on July 10, 1933; he graduated from Indiana University and 
7earned a law degree from Valparaiso University; he moved to 
8Gary, Indiana after becoming a deputy prosecutor and married 
9Ruthellyn in 1976; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Richard Hatcher was elected mayor of Gary, Indiana 
11in 1967, becoming one of the first black mayors of a major U.S. 
12city; he became the political face of Gary and a political 
13force for blacks after his ground-breaking election; he 
14organized the 1972 National Black Political Convention in Gary 
15and served as chairman of Jesse Jackson's Democratic 
16presidential campaign in 1984 and vice chairman four years 
17later; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, During his 20 years in office, Richard Hatcher 
19secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal money for  
20Gary, Indiana, some of which was used to build low-cost housing 
21and the first public housing units in the city in nearly two 
22decades; he also received federal funds for jobs training, 
 
 
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1repaved deteriorating streets, and put numerous inner-city 
2neighborhoods on regular garbage collection for the first time; 
3and
 
4    WHEREAS, Prior to becoming mayor of Gary, Indiana, Richard 
5Hatcher was a member of its city council, where he helped pass 
6an open housing law to end restrictive property covenants that 
7forced blacks to live primarily in Gary's midtown section; and
 
  
8    WHEREAS, Richard Hatcher and his wife have three daughters, 
9Ragen, Rachelle, and Renee; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
12Richard Gordon Hatcher and extend our sincere condolences to 
13his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
14further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to  the family of  Richard Hatcher as an expression of 
17our deepest sympathy.