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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Michael Edward Banks, Sr. of Chicago, who
4passed away on August 25, 2015; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Michael Banks was born on June 4, 1945 in Chicago;
6his parents were Edward Caldwell Banks and Pauline Pruitt
7Banks; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Michael Banks attended Chicago Public Schools,
9where he distinguished himself as an athlete and a scholar by
10graduating 2 years early from Harlan High School and receiving
11accolades and awards in basketball and track; he set a city of
12Chicago record in the long jump, a record that remained
13untouched for decades; his prowess in track earned him a dinner
14with Olympian Jessie Owens, which was an evening he never
15forgot; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Michael Banks attended Bradley University on an
17athletic scholarship and joined the Epsilon Kappa Chapter of
18Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; he earned his Bachelor of
19Science degree in Business and Education and joined the
20professional staff of Bradley University; and
 
21    WHEREAS, During his tenure at Bradley University, Michael

 

 

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1Banks served in several capacities; he was responsible for the
2Men's Residence Halls, Fraternity Affairs, and Minority
3Student Affairs; he served as Assistant Dean of Men and
4Assistant to the Dean of Students; he was the founder of the
5Black Studies and Cultural Arts Center while serving as
6Assistant Dean of Students; he also founded Music with A
7Message, Peoria's first minority news, information, and
8entertainment radio broadcast, which ran from 1968 to 1993; and
 
9    WHEREAS, While at Bradley University, Michael Banks'
10passion for social and economic justice took wings; he led a
11group of students on a march down Main Street to call attention
12to discrimination in housing; he also traveled extensively on
13the African continent in Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, and
14Liberia as a fundraiser for African Independence Groups
15associated with Nelson Mandela; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Michael Banks served as the Executive Director of
17Peoria's Citizen's Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc., a
18position he held for nearly 20 years; under his leadership,
19many programs were initiated, including Webster Head Start, day
20care services, kindergarten, before and after school latch-key
21programming, alcohol rehabilitation services, a Senior Drop In
22Center, neighborhood outreach centers, information and
23referral services, radio and television programming,
24weatherization and housing rehabilitation services, and a food

 

 

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1service operation; he initiated Community Economic Development
2projects for PCCEO, Inc. and formed the Peoria Economic
3Development Association, a local SBA development corporation;
4he started a 40-acre farm co-op that once served 100 families;
5he also served as President of the National Center for
6Community Action and as president of the Illinois Community
7Action Association; he was recognized by his peers for his
8strong leadership skills and effective management style; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Michael Banks played an integral role in
10establishing the first black owned and operated radio station
11in Peoria, WBGE 92.3 FM; he also served as General Manager of
12B&G Broadcasting, one of 250 black owned and operated
13broadcasting companies in the country, until the sale of the
14station in 2000; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In 2001, Michael Banks relocated to Chicago, where
16he founded and served as President and CEO of MEBA LLC, a
17consultant firm for non-profit organizations; in this
18capacity, he served as a consultant to the Community and
19Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc.'s
20planning department until his retirement in 2012; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Michael Banks was preceded in death by his
22parents; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Michael Banks is survived by his wife, Noel
2Stewart Banks; 2 children, Michael Banks, Jr. and Ebony Banks
3(Emorej) Henderson; a grandson, Elisha A. Henderson; a brother,
4Phillip Banks; 3 sisters, Rita Jackson, Patricia Hodges, and
5Lori Jackson; an uncle, Wilfred (Betty) Banks; and his many
6nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and
7friends; therefore, be it
 
8    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
9ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his
10family and friends, mourn the passing of Michael Edward Banks,
11Sr.; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to the family of Michael Banks as an expression of
14our sympathy.