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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former 
4Illinois State Representative Raymond Whitney Ewell, who 
5passed away on October 28, 2022; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell, the second child of Whitney and 
7Severine Ewell, was born in Chicago on December 29, 1928; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell excelled academically as an 
9adolescent, attending Corpus Christi Elementary School and 
10later graduating from Englewood High School in Chicago in 
111946; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Following high school, Rep. Ewell earned a 
13Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois in 1949, a 
14Master of Arts in 1951, and a Juris Doctor from the University 
15of Chicago in 1954; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell's commitment to service began with his 
17military conscription into the U.S. Army, and after concluding 
18his military career with an honorable discharge, he 
19re-established himself in the legal field, practicing law for 
2053 years and becoming a partner at the law offices of Ewell, 
21Graham, McCormick, Ross and Davidson; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, After years of participation in the 17th Ward 
2Regular Democratic Organization, Rep. Ewell was elected to the 
3Illinois House of Representatives and served the 29th District 
4from 1967 to 1983; and
 
5    WHEREAS, At the height of the Civil Rights Movement in 
61967, Rep. Ewell, along with State Representatives Harold 
7Washington, Louis A. H. Caldwell, Otis Collins, Kenneth Hall, 
8and Calvin L. Smith and Senators Richard H. Newhouse and 
9Charles Chew Jr., founded the Illinois Legislative Black 
10Caucus; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, During his tenure in office, Rep. Ewell served in 
12numerous leadership roles, such as chairman of the Illinois 
13House Higher Education Committee, chairman of the Illinois 
14Legislative Black Caucus, and chairman of the National Society 
15of State Legislators; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, While in office and following his retirement from 
17the Illinois General Assembly, Rep. Ewell was an active member 
18in numerous organizations, including the Federal Public 
19Defender Program, the Cook County Bar Association, the NAACP, 
20the Washington Park Y.M.C.A., the Southtown Y.M.C.A, the 
21Business Men's Association, the St. Carthage Grooming School 
22for Boys, and the Perry Avenue Block Club; and
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell was preceded in death by his first 
2wife, Joyce Ewell; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell is survived by his wife, Marcia Ewell; 
4his sons, David Raymond, Marc Whitney, Raymond Anthony "Tony", 
5Anthony Romain, and Marcus Alleyne; his grandchildren, Marc 
6Jr., Kareim, Raymond Anthony Jr., Kendall,  Drew, Diana, 
7Cameron, and Ala; and his great-grandchildren, Silas, Kai, 
8Aiyanna, and Kree; therefore, be it
  
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
10HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
11we mourn the passing of former Illinois State Representative 
12Raymond Whitney Ewell 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  Rep. Ewell as an expression of our 
17deepest sympathy.