HR0589

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 

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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives were saddened
to learn of the death
of Silas 
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Purnell on November 1, 2003; and

 

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    WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell was the retired of director of the 
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Educational Services
Division at Ada S. McKinley
Community 
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Services, Inc., after 34 years of service; and

 

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    WHEREAS, Silas Purnell was born on March 10, 1923 in 
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Chicago; he was a
graduate of the Chicago Public School System 
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and received his bachelor's degree
in business administration 
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from the Tuskegee Institute; in addition, he served
in the 
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United States Air Force for 3 and one-half years; and

 

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    WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell was employed for 12 years with Coca 
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Cola Bottling
Company, where he served 10 of those years as 
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Marketing Manager; and

 

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    WHEREAS, In 1967, Mr. Purnell began his career at Ada S. 
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McKinley after
spending a year as a volunteer; his base of 
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operations for 34 years
was a basement level unit in the 
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Dearborn Homes public housing development at
2961 South 
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Dearborn Street on Chicago's South Side; and

 

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    WHEREAS, During his tenure at Ada S. McKinley Community 
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Services, Inc., Mr.
Purnell instituted programs to get minority 
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youth off the streets, encouraged
them to finish high school, 
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and counseled and supported their efforts to enroll
in
college; 
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he helped over 50,000 young African-American men and
women 
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enroll in over 200 colleges and universities throughout the 
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country and
increased the retention rate of the students he 
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assisted to well over 50
percent with many continuing on to 
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graduate and professional schools; and

 

 


 









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    WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell used a "no nonsense" approach to 
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education; he counseled
each student based on their academic 
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and professional ambitions and gave them
the encouragement, 
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wisdom, and vision to accomplish their goals; and

 

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    WHEREAS, In addition to his duties, Mr. Purnell went beyond 
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the call of
duty by helping less advantaged students with 
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anything from busfare to
eyeglasses and was available to 
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counsel on issues far beyond the
classroom;
and

 

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    WHEREAS, Silas Purnell served as a member of numerous 
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organizations and
volunteer services, including the National 
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Association of College Admission
Counselors, past chairman of 
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the Human Relations Committee, member of the
Veterans 
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Committee, the Illinois Association of College Admissions 
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Counselors,
the National Scholarship and Service Fund for Negro 
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Students, member of the
Council for College Attendance, the 
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Pullman Foundation, the Office of the
Superintendent of Public 
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Instruction, board member for the Illinois Council for

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Educational Services, chairman for the National Coordinating 
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Committee for
Educational Services, the Illinois State 
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Scholarship Commission, the Midwest
Community Council, the 
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National Association for Financial Aid to Minority
Students, 
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the Research Triangle Institute, member of the American 
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Personnel and
Guidance Association Non-White Concerns 
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Division, the College Entrance
Examination Board, member of 
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Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid
Opportunity 
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Program Personnel, founder of Principal Scholars Program, 
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Olive
Harvey Community College, the Chicago City Colleges

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Career Center, chairman of the nominating committee for the 
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Chicago City
College Board of Trustees, member of the Chicago 
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Urban League, member of
the Council of College Attendance, 
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board member of
the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, member of 
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the Illinois Concerned Blacks in
Higher Education, member of 
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the Wendell Phillips High School Hall of Fame and
Alumni, and 
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member of Mid America Association of Educational Opportunity

 


 









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Program Personnel; and

 

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    WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Purnell provided his time and 
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service to the
Illinois Department of Public Aid, the Illinois 
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Board of Higher Education,
Operation PUSH and the NAACP; and

 

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    WHEREAS, On July 1, 2004, Public Act 93-455, which amends 
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the Higher
Education Student Assistance Act and changes the 
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Illinois Incentive for Access
Grant Program to the Silas 
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Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access Grant Program,
will 
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become effective; and

 

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    WHEREAS, Silas Purnell will be remembered as a mentor, role 
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model, and
dedicated leader in the community whose 
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determination helped and encouraged
thousands of 
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African-American youth to pursue their dreams and ambitions;

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and

 

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    WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell's passing will be deeply felt by many, 
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especially his
wife, Marilyn; his four children, Rosalind, 
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Rolinda, Ronald, and Donna Purnell;
his six grandchildren; and 
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many other relatives and friends; and

 

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    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by one child; therefore, 
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be it

 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn the passing of Silas Purnell along with all who knew and 
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loved him and extend our sincere condolences to his family and 
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friends; and be it further

 

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