SR0880 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0880 LRB095 22743 KXB 53164 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Charles Rheon Brock of Champaign, who passed away on September 29, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Charles Rheon Brock, also known as Chuck, was born on September 26, 1953 in Greenville, Mississippi to Odessa Delores and the late Emmett Brock, Sr.; he was the third of four children born to that union; Charles attended Julia L. Armstrong and Melissa Manning Elementary Schools; he attended Coleman High School, where he played the tuba in the marching band; due to integration, he graduated in 1971 from Greenville High School; and

WHEREAS, After graduation he attended the University of Illinois-Urbana, where he majored in Political Science; he was a defensive tackle for the Illini football team; he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Tau Chapter; after leaving the University he partnered with two people, Revie Sorey, his former classmate at the University, and Jack Weiner; together they became the first two African-American fur wholesalers in the country; and

WHEREAS, In 1987 he became the Executive Director of the Roseland Business Development Council under Mayor Richard M. Daley in Chicago; during his tenure in the Roseland community, his organization was a delegate agency to the City of Chicago; the organization provided technical assistance to the business community and developed low and moderate homes for area residents; in 1987 he teamed up with Reverend Dr. William Samuel to do affordable housing in the City of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, He relocated to Champaign, where he held the title of Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Westwood Community Development in East Central Illinois; in 1992 he totally lost his sight due to the effects of diabetes; in spite of his blindness, he never stopped being active in community projects and caring for residents in the community; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife, Christine, were united in marriage on October 24, 1998 in Chicago and he became a stepfather to Alex; in 1999 he ran for Mayor of Champaign; he was the first Chairman for the Resident Advisory Board of Champaign County Housing Urban and Development; he was a member of the Church of the Living God in Champaign; in 1996 he had a city-wide Youth Conference in Champaign; he was the founder of Brock Innovative Group, Project Vowels for American Veterans, Rheon Entertainment, and had recently started the Old School Music Project to preserve 50s, 60s, and 70s music; he had a television show on Public Access in Urbana and a former Old School Music radio show; he interviewed celebrities such as the O’Jays, Nancy Wilson, Jerry Butler, The Chi-Lites, The Dells, The Emotions, Tom Joyner, The Temptations, Ludacris, the late James Brown, Gerald Levert, and many other artists; in 2003 he started the Academic Athlete of the Month where high school students were honored for their achievements; and he created many community events, including the Illi-Bears for the Illini fans; and

WHEREAS, He leaves his loving wife, Christine; his son, Alex Cater; his play daughter, Kristina Joi Hunt; his devoted mother, Odessa Brock; his two sisters, Deborah (Solomon) Osborne and Sheila (Aaron) Capers; his brother, Emmett (Dawn) Brock, Jr.; his two sister-laws, Vanessa Johnson and Janet Johnson; his special friends, Neda Lewis, Vicky Greear, and James and Reynonda Branch; and a host of dear fraternity brothers, many nephews, nieces, and a congregation of family and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Charles Brock; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Charles Brock as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.