HR0456 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0456 LRB103 34877 LAW 64742 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Captain William "Bill" Pinkney of Chicago, who passed away on August 31, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Capt. Pinkney was born to Marion Henderson and William Deltorius Pinkney in Chicago on September 15, 1935; he served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1964; he became a licensed master of steam, power, and sail vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Prior to his sailing career, Capt. Pinkney was largely involved in the cosmetics industry, first working as a freelance make-up artist before becoming a marketing manager for Revlon in 1973 and director of marketing for Johnson Products Company in 1977; he then became director of public information for the City of Chicago's Department of Human Services in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Capt. Pinkney became the first Black sailor to solo-circumnavigate the world by way of Cape Horn, Hornos Island, Chile; he embarked on his solo voyage on his cutter The Commitment from Boston, Massachusetts in 1990, and his journey spanned 27,000 miles and lasted 22 months; he then set out on the vessel Sortilege to retrace the Middle Passage slave trade routes with his crew and a team of teachers in partnership with PBS and several corporations to both develop a curriculum on the Atlantic slave trade and create a television special; from 2000 to 2003, he served as the first captain of the Amistad, a replica schooner of the 1839 vessel better known as the freedom revolt ship; he also captained the catamaran Lady Dee; in more recent years, he ran a charter boat business in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, taking tourists on cruises throughout the British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean; and

WHEREAS, Capt. Pinkney authored three books, his award-winning, 2006 autobiography As Long as it Takes, his 1994 children's book Captain Bill Pinkney's Journey, and his 2022 children's book Sailing Commitment Around the World; he was also a motivational/inspirational speaker; and

WHEREAS, Capt. Pinkney served on the boards of several organizations, including the Mystic Seaport Museum, the National Maritime Historical Society, and the American Sail Training Association; he also belonged to the Belmont Yacht Club as a commodore, the New York Yacht Club, and the International Association of Cape Horners; and

WHEREAS, Capt. Pinkney received numerous honors and awards, including being named the 1992 Yachtsman of the Year by the Chicago Yacht Club and the 1999 Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago magazine, inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame and receiving its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021, receiving the America and the Sea Award from the Mystic Seaport Museum in 2022, and earning honorary doctoral degrees from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Southern Connecticut State University, and Becker College; and

WHEREAS, Capt. Pinkney was a great husband, father, mentor, and friend; he will be remembered for his adventurous spirit and his courage in following his dreams; and

WHEREAS, Capt. Pinkney is survived by his wife, Migdalia Vachier Pinkney; his daughter, Angela Walton; his sister, Naomi Pinkney; and two grandchildren; 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 Captain William "Bill" Pinkney 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 Capt. Pinkney as an expression of our deepest sympathy.