HR0818 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0818 LRB098 19863 MST 55081 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Harvey B. Ricks, who passed away on January 24, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks was born in 1936 in Waukegan to Philander, Sr. and Narvia (nee McKenzie) Ricks; he attended Waukegan Township High School and Lake Forest College, where he played football; he married Helen Gray in 1955; and

WHEREAS, In 1958, Harvey Ricks became the first African-American employed at the North Shore Gas Company in Waukegan; later on he was promoted to Supervisory Instructor in Training and transferred to Peoples Gas in Chicago; in 1977, he was named General Supervisor at Distribution-North at Peoples Gas; he retired in 1992; and

WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks was active in many civic and social organizations; he was a member of the Education Committee of the Waukegan Area Conference on Race and Religion; he received the Freedom Award in February of 1979 from the Men of Kappa Chi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in honor of his involvement in the Whittier School Case during the 1960s; he was a member of the Unicorns Organization, which gave scholarships and provided food, blankets, and clothing to those in need; and

WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks enjoyed traveling to Europe, China, Alaska, the Canary Islands, and the Caribbean; he attended the Olympics in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1996 in Atlanta; he was an avid gardener and enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, bowling, and music, and was self-taught in doing macrame, often providing gifts to family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, McKenzie Ricks and Dr. Philander Ricks, Jr.; his sister, Valda (Ricks) Whitehead; and his sister-in-law, Sylvia Ricks; and

WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen; his daughters, Valerie Renee Ricks and Dr. Harlene (Fernando) Shipley; his son, Wayne (Stephanie) Ricks; his grandchildren, Ahleo Ricks, Matthew and Rochelle Shipley, Laura Ricks, Wayne II (Melanie) Ricks, and Keyana and Nathan Ricks; his great-grandchildren, Jayden Shipley, Isaiah, Aaliyah, and Mariah Ricks; his brothers-in-law, Bennie, Emery, Elmer, and Ralph Gray; his sister-in-law, Barbara Ricks; his special niece and nephews, Elise James, Dr. Philip Ricks, and Rick Whitehead; his special cousins, Sherman McKenzie, Maxine Allen, and Wilma Faye Lavant; and his special friends, James Epperson and Darryl Bradshaw; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Harvey B. Ricks, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Harvey Ricks as an expression of our deepest sympathy.