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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Elgie R. Sims Sr., who passed away on
4March 7, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Elgie Sims Sr. was born to Carvin and Lizzie
6(Harris) Sims on August 2, 1942; he attended Washington High
7School, where he was known as one of the fastest men in
8Arkansas and earned the nickname Smoke; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Elgie Sims Sr. moved his family to Milwaukee,
10Wisconsin and then Chicago; he graduated from Chicago Automatic
11Transmission School, Greer Technical School, Sun Electric
12Technical School, and the Chicago School of Business; during
13this time, he began working at Mel's Manufacturing, where he
14became a union steward; he left to work at the Schwinn Bicycle
15Company and subsequently opened his first business, the
16Sims/Jackson Transmission Shop, while attending night school;
17and
 
18    WHEREAS, After completing business school in 1971, Elgie
19Sims Sr. opened Pete and Sims Shell Station; soon after, he
20opened Sims Auto Parts in Chicago and New Way Cleaners in El
21Dorado, Arkansas; in 1978, he expanded his business interests
22in Chicago to include three warehouses and auto parts stores;

 

 

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1one of his greatest business accomplishments came when he
2opened Sims Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge in Fordyce, Arkansas,
3making him the first African American in Arkansas to own a new
4car dealership; he also founded Sims Wrecker Service and
5Elgie's Used Cars; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Elgie Sims Sr. believed in giving back to his
7community and was honored when he was appointed to serve on the
8Arkansas Board of Towing and Recovery, where he served until
92016; he received numerous awards and recognitions, including
10one from the Nile and Marzell Smith Museum of African American
11History; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Elgie Sims Sr. was most proud of his greatest
13legacy, his family; he took pride in being the patriarch of his
14family, dispensing wisdom to his children, grandchildren,
15nephews, family, and friends; he was known for his many
16colorful sayings and the life lessons and challenges he gave
17himself and those around him; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Elgie Sims Sr. was preceded in death by his
19parents; his brother, Calvin; and special family members,
20Lorene Pettye Sims and Will Ella Gaston; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Elgie Sims Sr. is survived by his wife, Penny; his
22sons, Pastor Paul (Carol) Sims, Illinois State Senator Elgie

 

 

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1(Shivonne) Sims Jr., Terrence (Rashonda) Sims, Libue Steven
2Sims, Renelius (Shekasha) Sims, Sean Lea-Sims, and Josh Sims;
3his daughters, Teresa Sims, Evangelist Elgie Rena (Fletcher)
4Sims-Neely, Vicky (Mike) Brown, Krystal (Rodney) Norman, and
5Rashawnda (Albert) Hayes; his brother, Troy (Barbara) Sims; his
6sisters, Eva Lois (Roy) Eutsey and Barbara Johnson; 29
7grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and
8nephews, Robert, Marcus, Victor, and Marcus, and many friends;
9and special family members, Irma Sims and Barbara Howell;
10therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
13Elgie R. Sims Sr. and extend our sincere condolences to his
14family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Elgie Sims Sr. as an expression of
18our deepest sympathy.