HR0112 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0112 LRB103 31289 ECR 58482 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Eugene Morice Barnes, who passed away on November 13, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Barnes, the eighth of 11 children born to John and Nettie L. Barnes, was born in Chicago on July 24, 1931; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Barnes was a product of Chicago Public Schools and graduated from Wendell Phillips High School; and

WHEREAS, Following high school, Eugene Barnes joined the U.S. Air Force as a private, serving in France and Germany during the Korean Conflict; during his service, he achieved the rank of sergeant and earned a Certificate of Accounting from the U.S. Air Force Specialist School; and

WHEREAS, After returning home with an honorable discharge, Eugene Barnes started his professional career working for the Social Security Administration; this was followed by a stint with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and then a 14-year tenure with the Chicago Transit Authority; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Barnes was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and served the 29th District from 1970 to 1979; and

WHEREAS, Joining a group of lawmakers who helped found the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus a few years prior to his arrival in Springfield, Eugene Barnes championed legislation that helped to create the Illinois State Lottery, made Illinois the first state to provide funding for Sickle Cell Anemia, and secured appropriations to finance the first buildings on the Chicago State University campus; and

WHEREAS, In 1979, Eugene Barnes resigned his seat in the Illinois House when he was named the first Black chairman of the Chicago Transit Authority; he was later elected chairman of the American Public Transportation Association; and

WHEREAS, During his four terms as a state legislator, Eugene Barnes' work on behalf of Illinois families earned him much recognition, including the Outstanding Legislator Award from the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities; and

WHEREAS, While in office and following his retirement from the Illinois General Assembly, Eugene Barnes remained active in the community as a proud member a number of organizations, including the Maple Park Homeowners Association, the NAACP, and the A. Phillip Randolph Association and as a life member of ATU Local 241 and Operation Breadbasket, now Operation PUSH; and

WHEREAS, Eugene Barnes was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Lei-Lani Roach and his grandchild, Eric Antwon; and

WHEREAS, Eugene M. Barnes is survived by his three children, Vikki L. Barnes-McKenzie, EuGina M. Barnes, and Craig D. Barnes, and his six grandchildren, Michael Dewayne Jr., Tiffany Danielle, Craig Dareen II, Timothy Jacob, Elijah Malachi, and LeiLani MyL; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Eugene Morice Barnes and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Eugene Barnes as an expression of our deepest sympathy.