HR0845

LRB094 18991 LCT 54471 r






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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 recent death of 
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Allan Johnson; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Allan Johnson was born on December 16, 1959, in 
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Chicago, the son of Ted and Cynthia Johnson; he grew up on the 
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South Side, where his first job was helping out at a roller 
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skating rink owned by an uncle; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He attended Columbia College and began working at 
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the Chicago Tribune in 1979, starting at the paper's lowest 
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rung, copy clerk, and steadily advancing; Mr. Johnson's byline 
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first appeared in the financial section in 1987 and the next 
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year he began the "Just for Laughs" column in the Friday 
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section, which focused on the then-booming local comedy scene; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Since 2003, Allan Johnson was a staff reporter for 
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Q, the Sunday lifestyle section, bringing his expertise to such 
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cover stories as a hilarious take-off on "The Apprentice" and a 
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thoughtful and amusing examination of sarcasm; he was one of 
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only a handful of African-Americans writing criticism for major 
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newspapers; he provided the Chicago Tribune with more than a 
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decade's worth of reviews, interviews, and stories that were 
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thoughtful, knowing, and enthusiastic; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In addition to his newspaper work, Mr. Johnson was 
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a frequent and lively guest on local radio and television 
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programs; since 1998, he had been an adjunct professor at 
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Columbia College where he taught a course in reporting for 
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newspapers and broadcasting; he was often seen parading his 
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wide-eyed students on tours of the Tribune; and he had recently 
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developed and had begun teaching a new course on reporting 
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entertainment news for the journalism department; and

 
 


 






HR0845
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LRB094 18991 LCT 54471 r




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    WHEREAS, Previously married and divorced, Allan Johnson 
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was the father of a 24-year-old son, Warren; he later married 
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Evelyn Holmes, a general assignment reporter for ABC 7 News, in 
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1997, and from that marriage, Caitlin Josephine was born; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Allan Johnson will be felt by all 
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who knew and loved him, especially his wife, Evelyn Holmes; his 
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son, Warren; his daughter, Caitlin Josephine; his parents; his 
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brother, Michael; his sister, Donna; and a host of loving 
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relatives, friends, and co-workers; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we mourn, along with all who knew and loved him, the death of 
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Allan Johnson and extend our sincerest condolences to his 
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family and 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 Allan Johnson.