SR0911 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0911 LRB095 22945 KXB 53393 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Percy Baker Jr. of Peoria, who passed away on October 23, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Percy Baker Jr. was born March 26, 1950, in Iverness, Mississippi, to Percy Sr. and Ethel Wilson Baker; Percy was a 1968 graduate of Manual High School, where he sang with the mixed chorus and participated on the men's basketball team; he also attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa; he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1972 from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where he played basketball for the Simpson Redmen; and

WHEREAS, Percy enjoyed cooking, which was cultivated by his first job as a teen with Walkers Catering Service; he later worked for the Peoria Courthouse as a probation officer, and for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, working with at-risk youth and wards of the State; over a period of 10 years, he was donating service hours to George Washington Carver Community Center; he was later appointed executive director of the center and served in that capacity for 13 years; and

WHEREAS, He initiated the following programs: Toy Shoe Drive, Biddy Basketball, Carver Senior Club, After-School Program, Summer Camp, Head Start Program, Cocaine Anonymous, Turbo Kick, IRS Tax Counseling Project, and the Kings of Court;his total service to Carver accumulated 32 years; his work as an advocate, volunteer, and going into the community, led to his appointment as the upcoming volunteer chapter director for the African-American Task Force for the Gift of Hope; and

WHEREAS, Percy was a member of Heavens View Christian Fellowship Church, where he sang with the Men of Vision; he possessed a deep devotion to the public and was active in the community, serving on many committees; Mr. Baker was a past president and current board member of the AmerenCILCO Customer Advisory Council; he served on the council for 13 years; he also served on the Senior Citizens Commission for three years and participated on the ICC Minority Recruitment & Retention Committee; and

WHEREAS, Percy dedicated his life to helping others and was recognized by the many awards and honors he was given, including the 2008 Illinois Central College Role Model Award, the 2008 National Association of Social Workers Public Citizen of the Year Award, the 2007 Community Outreach Award, the 2007 Peoria Branch NAACP Civil Rights Award, the 2004 Wilson Lodge #24 Men of Vision Leadership Award, the 2002 George Washington Carver Community Center Appreciation Award, the 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Honoree Award for Continued Community Service, the 2001 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Award for Community Service, the 2000 DCFS One Church, One Child Award for Outstanding Service to Inner City Youth, the 1999 Sigma Gamma Rho Image Award for Building a Better Community, the 1988 JC Penny Golden Rule Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service, and the 1997 Unshackled Annual Impact Award; and

WHEREAS, In 1995, he was inducted into the Afro Hall of Fame Museum; Percy enjoyed coaching youth at Father Sweeney School, assisting with the Gus Macker tournament, and lending his talents as an emcee to the River City Soul Fest and the Gospel Jubilee; and

WHEREAS, As a speaker in the school system, he was always willing and available to speak to Peoria's youth to encourage them to stay on the right path; Percy created and was commentator of the B Word, a talk radio program which dealt with current issues affecting the African-American community in Peoria; he became an advocate of organ donation, taking speaking engagements to stress its importance to area youth and the African-American community; and his legacy will live on as bone marrow and other organs have been donated to save the lives of others; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his mother; one brother, Lawrence; and one sister, Lela; and

WHEREAS, Percy Baker Jr. leaves to cherish his memory his father, Percy Baker Sr.; his fiancee, Denise Parker; his two sons, Lawrence Luse Baker and Desmond Baker; his three sisters, Mattie Baker, Mary Ann Baker, and Mildred Smith; his brother, David Baker; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, family members, 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 Percy Baker Jr.; and be it further

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