HR0699

LRB096 15143 GRL 30200 r





  
1

HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3
Representatives are saddened to  learn of the death of
John L. 
4
Watson Sr., who passed away on August 30, 2009; and
  
 
5
    WHEREAS, John Watson Sr. was born on May 15, 1948, in 
6
Rondo, Arkansas; he was the son of Annie Bell and Wille B. 
7
Watson; and
  
 
8
    WHEREAS, John Watson Sr. grew up in Rondo, Arkansas, where 
9
he worked alongside his parents in the fields; he attended Anna 
10
Strong High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and 
11
football; after graduating high school in 1965, he attended the 
12
HBCU Arkansas AM&N (now the University of Arkansas at Pine 
13
Bluff); in 1969, he moved to Chicago, where he married his 
14
childhood sweetheart, Bobbie J. Watson; and
  
 
15
    WHEREAS, John Watson Sr. tried to start several businesses 
16
during his lifetime, including a trucking company; as his 
17
family grew, however, he decided that, as a family man, he 
18
needed a more settled profession; he then began working for 
19
Reynolds Aluminum (now Alcoa), where he worked for over 30 
20
years; during his tenure at Reynolds, he was well known as a 
21
hard worker and ascended the ranks, progressing from a laborer 
22
to a supervisor; and
  
 
 


 






HR0699
- 2 -
LRB096 15143 GRL 30200 r




1
    WHEREAS, John Watson Sr. is survived by his wife of almost 
2
40 years, Bobbie Watson; his children, Dana Watson Carroll 
3
(William), Tammi Watson Eastlin (Maurice), Linda Watson Edgar 
4
(Anthony), and John L. Watson Jr.; and his grandchildren, John 
5
L. Watson III, LaShaundria Z. Watson, Mia F. Eastlin, Juwan L. 
6
Watson, and Avery Claire T. Carroll; and
  
 
7
    WHEREAS, John Watson Sr. will be remembered by all who knew 
8
and loved him as a funny and wise man who loved his family most 
9
and his blues next; therefore, be it
  
 
10
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
12
mourn, along with s family and friends, the passing of John L. 
13
Watson Sr.; and be it further
  
 
14
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15
presented to the family of John Watson Sr. as an expression of 
16
our sympathy.