SR1138LRB102 28556 LAW 40433 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Raymond Allen Murray Jr. of the 
4Chatham neighborhood of Chicago; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Raymond Murray was born in 1923 and was one of 
6eight children; he graduated from Wendell Phillips High School 
7in Chicago; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Raymond Murray enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps 
9in 1943; he reported to Montford Point, the segregated base 
10outside Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, becoming 
11one of the 20,000 Black marines to break the color barrier 
12through integrating the Marine Corps during World War II; he 
13was a steward and rifleman who served in combat against 
14Japanese forces at the Battle of Okinawa, and he ultimately 
15earned the rank of sergeant; during his service, he also 
16boxed, winning a featherweight title in a competition among 
17troops serving in the Pacific theater in Yokohama, Japan; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, After the war, Raymond Murray mixed Canfield's 
19pop at the old A.J. Canfield Company bottler in Chicago; he was 
20also a driver for what is known today as PepsiCo; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Raymond Murray coached boxing for the Chicago 
 
 
SR1138- 2 -LRB102 28556 LAW 40433 r

1Park District, becoming a mentor, father figure, and hero to 
2many; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Raymond Murray served as a Democratic precinct 
4captain in the sixth ward and was a member of the Chicago 
5chapter of the Montford Point Marine Association, Inc. (MPMA); 
6for being one of the original Montford Point Marines, he 
7received a Congressional Gold Medal in Chicago in 2012; and

  
 
8    WHEREAS, Raymond Murray will especially be remembered for 
9serving his country with tenacity, valor, and distinction; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Raymond Murray is survived by his wife, Esther; 
11his stepdaughter, LaDonna Bonner; and his sister, Frances; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
15Raymond Allen Murray Jr. and extend our sincere condolences to 
16his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
17further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to the family of Raymond Murray as an expression of 
20our deepest sympathy.