093_SR0314

 
                                     LRB093 14322 HSS 19898 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois learned with regret of the death of Silas Purnell on
 4    Saturday, November 1, 2003; and

 5        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Purnell  was  born  on  March  10, 1923 in
 6    Chicago; he graduated from Wendell Phillips High  School;  in
 7    1942,  he  enlisted in the U.S. Army; he spent three years of
 8    service in Tuskegee, Alabama; he married Marilyn Anderson  in
 9    1946; and

10        WHEREAS,  Mr. Purnell held a bachelor's degree in foreign
11    trade; he attended the Sheil Institute, Roosevelt University,
12    and Northwestern University; he worked for Coca-Cola Co.  and
13    was  the  founder of the preparation and placement program at
14    Ada S. McKinley Community Services; and

15        WHEREAS, Through his work at Ada S. McKinley, Mr. Purnell
16    devoted his life to making grants available to  needy  teens;
17    he  was  instrumental in helping over 50,000 young people get
18    grants for education; he believed that any  student  who  had
19    the  will  and  determination  could get a college education;
20    many students who went through the program obtained graduate,
21    doctorate, medical, and law degrees; and

22        WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell was  a  member  of  Pilgrim  Baptist
23    Church;  he continued to reach out to young people to further
24    their education while being bedridden the last two  years  of
25    his life; and

26        WHEREAS,  The passing of Mr. Purnell has been deeply felt
27    by  many,  especially  his  wife,  Marilyn;   his   children,
28    Rosalind,  Rolinda,  Donna,  and  Ronald;  his  sister,  June
29    Phillips; his brother, Morris; his six grandchildren; and his
30    five great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

31        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
 
                            -2-      LRB093 14322 HSS 19898 r
 1    ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the  passing
 2    of  Silas Purnell, and we extend our sincerest condolences to
 3    his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him;  and  be
 4    it further

 5        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
 6    presented to the family of Mr. Purnell as  an  expression  of
 7    our  deepest  sympathy in the loss of a man whose passion for
 8    the education of needy students will continue to live  on  in
 9    the hearts and minds of those he assisted.