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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened 
3to learn of the death of Jerry "Iceman" Butler, who passed away 
4on February 20, 2025; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Jerry Butler's sharecropper parents moved his 
6family from Mississippi to Chicago in 1942 when he was three 
7years old; he grew up in what became the Cabrini-Green housing 
8development on Chicago's Near North Side; he attended James A. 
9Sexton School; he studied to be a chef at Washburne Trade 
10School before embarking on his career in music; he married 
11Annette Butler in 1959; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Jerry Butler achieved fame as a member of the 
13Impressions, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of 
14Fame in 1991, and later as a solo soul artist; his songs have 
15been sampled by numerous other musicians, including Missy 
16Elliott, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, and The Game; he is a 
17three-time Grammy Award nominee; he chaired the Rhythm & Blues 
18Foundation, which provides a wide range of assistance to 
19musicians and pushed the industry to provide medical and 
20retirement benefits; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Jerry Butler had a 32-year political career as a 
22member of the Cook County Board and was the longtime chairman 
 
 
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1of the powerful Health and Hospitals Committee; while serving 
2on the county board in 1993, he earned a master's degree in 
3public administration from Governors State University; his 
4true passion as a county commissioner was ensuring health care 
5for all, and he was at the forefront in opening John H. Stroger 
6Jr. Hospital of Cook County, replacing the old Cook County 
7Hospital, in 2002; he retired from the county board in 2018; 
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Jerry Butler was preceded in death by his wife, 
10Annette; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Jerry Butler is survived by his sons, Anthony and 
12Randy; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild; therefore, 
13be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
16Jerry "Iceman" Butler and extend our sincere condolences to 
17his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the family of Jerry Butler as an expression of our 
21deepest sympathy.