SR0639

LRB095 20722 KXB 49173 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3
learn of the death of R. Eugene Pincham of Chicago, who passed 
4
away on April 3, 2008; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, R. Eugene Pincham was born in Chicago on June 28, 
6
1925 and grew up in Alabama; he graduated from high school in 
7
1942 and later attended LeMoyne College in Memphis; he 
8
transferred to Tennessee State University in 1944 and earned a 
9
bachelor's degree in political science in 1947; and

 
10
    WHEREAS, He married Alzata C. Henry in 1948 and enrolled in 
11
Northwestern University School of Law that same year; he worked 
12
his way through school by waiting on tables at the Palmer House 
13
Hotel and shining shoes; he earned his law degree in 1951; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, He practiced law for the next 25 years; he was a 
15
brilliant criminal defense lawyer and a hero in Chicago's black 
16
neighborhoods; and
 
17
    WHEREAS, R. Eugene Pincham built a law practice as a 
18
advocate of causes that few others would champion; and
 
19
    WHEREAS, His knowledge, savvy and one-of-a-kind oratory 
20
made him the stuff of legends in the Cook County courts; and
 
 


 






SR0639
- 2 -
LRB095 20722 KXB 49173 r




1
    WHEREAS, During closing arguments, people would fill the 
2
courtroom just to hear Mr. Pincham speak; and
 
3
    WHEREAS, Even though a renowned barrister, he took the time 
4
to mentor young lawyers, both as a lawyer and later as a judge; 
5
and
 
6
    WHEREAS, Many have said that Judge Pincham encouraged 
7
people to do `what was right rather than what was expedient; 
8
and

 
9
    WHEREAS, He served as both a Cook County judge and Illinois 
10
Appellate Court justice; he became a Circuit Court judge in 
11
1976 and was assigned to the Criminal Division, where he served 
12
until 1984; he then became an Appellate Court justice and 
13
resigned in 1989; and

 
14
    WHEREAS, He was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi 
15
Fraternity; and he was a member of Trinity United Church of 
16
Christ; and
 
17
    WHEREAS, In 1989 he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic 
18
Party nomination for president of the Cook County Board of 
19
Commissioners; he was the nominee for mayor of Chicago in the 
20
Harold Washington Party in 1991; he lost the election but 
 


 






SR0639
- 3 -
LRB095 20722 KXB 49173 r




1
carried 19 of the 50 city wards; and

 
2
    WHEREAS, After his retirement, Judge Pincham continued to 
3
practice law; he also lectured at Harvard University, 
4
Northwestern, DePaul, Notre Dame, and the University of 
5
Chicago; he was a member of the American Civil Liberties Union 
6
and a lifetime member of the NAACP; and
 
7
    WHEREAS, Judge Pincham is survived by his son, Robert 
8
Eugene Pincham Jr.; his daughter, Dr. Andrea Michelle 
9
Pincham-Benton; his son, James Frederick Pincham; and his three 
10
grandchildren; he was preceded in death by his wife; therefore, 
11
be it

 
12
    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
13
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
14
his family and friends, the passing of Judge R. Eugene Pincham; 
15
and be it further

 
16
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17
presented to the family of R. Eugene Pincham as a symbol of our 
18
sympathy.