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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to recognize Emma L. Wilson-King 
4Foundation recent honorees - the late Mayor of East St. Louis 
5James E. Williams Sr. and his wife Lillian Croom
Williams; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The Emma L. Wilson-King Foundation was 
7established in 2009 as a civic and educational foundation

8dedicated to the enhancement of the neighborhoods and community 
9of East St. Louis; the foundation is
a non-profit organization 
10and was created to improve key elements of East St. Louis such 
11as public parks,
gardens, buildings, neighborhood 
12organizations, and educational enhancement of both young and 
13old
through schools and community center; and
  
 
  
14    WHEREAS, The Emma L Wilson-King Foundation is part of a 
15living legacy in memory of Mrs. Emma L Wilson-King, which is 
16formed out of her strong yet simple sense of caring and giving 
17regardless of personal wealth; she fostered relationships with 
18those both young and old and instilled in them a sense of 
19compassion to help others; and
 
20    WHEREAS, James E. Williams Sr. became the first 
21African-American mayor of East St. Louis in 1971; he later 
22served
as president of School Board District 189; during his 
 
 
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1tenure as mayor and school board president, he always sought to 
2be accessible to those he was elected to serve; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Lillian Croom Williams was an educator and 
4community organizer who advocated for the
disenfranchised 
5citizens in her community; she worked with students to help 
6them achieve their goals
and continue to pursue a higher 
7education; she also led the fight for fair wages for police, 
8firemen, and
teachers; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Honorees are those whose actions personify the 
10best in public
service and education; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
13we recognize the Emma L. Wilson-King Foundation honorees, the 
14late James E. Williams Sr. and Lillian Croom Williams; and be 
15it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to honoree Lillian Croom Williams.