HR1167 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1167 LRB093 23205 HSS 53179 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Charles Edward Clifton of Chicago on Sunday, August 15, 2004; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clifton was born on February 11, 1959 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; he earned a B.A. in U.S. history at San Francisco State University in 1993 and master's degrees from Dartmouth College in 1995 and the University of Chicago in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clifton began his career with Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) in Chicago in 1995; in 2000, he assumed the duties of editor of "Positively Aware", a leading HIV treatment journal; in July of 2002, Mr. Clifton was appointed executive director of TPAN; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Clifton worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health's STD/HIV/AIDS Public Policy and Program division on numerous important initiatives, including serving as a member of the HIV Prevention Planning Group; he had served as co-chair of the Policy Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee for the AIDS Foundation Chicago's Service Providers Council for the past several years; he served on the Editorial Advisory Board of PositiveWords.com, was a member of the Steering Committee of the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC), chaired the Community Advisory Board of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, and chaired the Executive Committee of the North American Treatment Action Forum; he was frequently asked to serve as keynote speaker or presenter at AIDS seminars, advocacy symposiums, and health clinic events; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Charles E. Clifton has been deeply felt by many, especially his partner, Kurt Kausch, Ph.D.; his mother, Claudell Clifton Weaver; his sisters, Charlotte Renee Jones and Carmen Elizabeth Cole-Crawford (Angelo); his grandmother, Betsy Eichelberger; his nieces, Chanda Clifton (Navy), Rosland Jones, Chadena Jones, and Claudia Cole; his nephew, Jahson Jones; his daughter, La Tosha; his grandson and granddaughter; his numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends, including James Moore, Selena Bretl, Lori King, and Patricia Williams-Lessane; and his other friends all over the world who mourn his untimely death and cherish his zest for savoring the "moments" of life; he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Donald Robert Weaver, and his father, Charles Edward Clifton, Sr.; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Charles Edward Clifton who was a well-respected and passionate advocate for people living with HIV, and we extend our deepest sympathy 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 Mr. Clifton as an expression of our sincere condolences.