HR1222 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1222 LRB098 21772 MST 60626 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of James Albert Deanes of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, James Deanes was born in Ruleville, Mississippi on April 23, 1948 to Ruby Watson and Jimmy Lee Deanes; he moved to Chicago with his family in the 1950s; he attended Grant Elementary School and graduated from Cregier Vocational High School; he studied at Washburne Trade School, becoming a machinist; he married Evelyn Bryant; and

WHEREAS, James Deanes began his career as an apprentice at Chuck & Dave Manufacturing; he then worked at ABM Industries as a plant manager for 27 years; he retired in 2013; and

WHEREAS, James Deanes had a passion for community involvement and education reform; he served as a member and chair of several Parent-Teacher Associations, Local School Improvement Councils, Local School Councils, and various community organizations; he was appointed chairperson of the Parent/Community Council, a multi-ethnic organization that helped spearhead community and legislative efforts aimed at giving parents and community members greater control over the governance of their children's schools through the establishment of local school councils; in 1996, he became the District Four Facilitator for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) at the behest of then-CPS CEO Paul Vallas; and

WHEREAS, James Deanes was preceded in death by his wife of 38 year, Evelyn; and

WHEREAS, James Deanes and his wife had 4 sons and a daughter; 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 James Albert Deanes, 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 James Deanes as an expression of our deepest sympathy.