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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Henry English, a beloved citizen,
4faithful man of God, prominent black philanthropic leader, and
5civic and community activist, who passed away on March 5, 2016;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Henry English was born in West Point, Mississippi
8on May 27, 1942; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Henry English, as a young adult, moved to
10Chicago's west side with his family, who came north to explore
11better opportunities; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Henry English attended Holland elementary school
13and graduated from Farragut High School and the former Crane
14Junior College, where he led the triumphant movement to change
15the name from Crane Junior College to Malcolm X College; he
16continued pivotal work in this area from 1968 to 1971; after
17Malcolm X College, he matriculated at Bachelor University in
18Durham New Hampshire, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political
19Science in 1972; he then earned his Master of Public
20Administration in 1974 from Cornell University in Ithaca, New
21York; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Henry English was a recognized leader in the black
2liberation movement in Chicago and will be remembered as an
3important Chicago leader; he was the founder and first
4President of Chicago City College student government, and
5eventually a leader in the Black Panther Party; throughout his
6entire life, he was a key strategic force behind many causes,
7campaigns, and social and economic justice issues; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Henry English amassed over 45 years of diversified
9management, in the health care, education and fund development
10fields; he rose to become a nationally recognized and respected
11not-for-profit association executive, as President and CEO of
12the Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc. (BUFI); founded in 1985
13to promote black philanthropy, self-help, community, and
14economic development; BUFI serves as one of his crowning
15professional achievements; the organization and social
16movement is committed to the improvement of the quality of life
17of African Americans through reliance on self-help, mutual aid,
18and volunteerism at the local community level; a pillar of the
19community, BUFI also provides grants, technical assistance,
20and support services to over 700 grassroots organizations and
21programs statewide that address critical needs of the African
22American community; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Henry English spent his entire life answering the
24clarion call to community service in the African American

 

 

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1communities; while many people talk about doing something great
2during their time on earth, he quickly dispensed with the empty
3rhetoric and instead delivered results, remaining steadfastly
4dedicated to creating major political, social, economic, and
5philanthropic changes in Chicago; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Henry English was instrumental in The Coalition to
7Save South Shore Country Club, which helped to transform the
8once exclusive South Shore Country Club, once scheduled for
9demolition, into today's South Shore Cultural Center, a public
10facility and historic south lakefront architectural jewel that
11provides a range of programs and services for the community; he
12was also instrumental in the reorganization of South Shore High
13School into four small schools, and was recently involved in
14the development of the new South Shore International College
15Prep High School, lending his leadership and expertise to
16promote high quality academic environments of our youth; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Henry English was a vital, dynamic, yet
18soft-spoken freedom-fighter, who was never boring and people
19who underestimated him often discovered that they made a big
20mistake; he was a social justice advocate, and a perpetually
21progressively active and respectable citizen who resided in his
22beloved South Shore community for over 40 years: he was a loyal
23and faithful member of Christ Bible Church; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Henry English was an affectionate and supportive
2man, a true friend indeed, who gave selflessly of his time and
3energy to family members, friends, and neighbors alike; he
4maintained an incredible and international network of close
5friends and professional associates, who felt privileged to
6know him; always nurturing the next generation of leaders, he
7was especially proud of a forever growing group
8'great-god-sons', whom he mentored; he will be sorely missed,
9but the memory of his character, intelligence, and compassion
10will live on in all those who knew and worked alongside,
11respected and loved him; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that mourn the passing of
14Henry English and extend our sincere condolences to his family
15and extended family, friends, neighbors, and activists across
16Illinois; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18prepared and presented to the family of Henry English as an
19expression of our deepest sympathy.