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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Major
4Armstead Jr., Ed.D., who passed away on February 18, 2022; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead was born to Amanda and Major
6Armstead Sr. in Chicago on December 26, 1938; he graduated
7from DuSable High School in 1956; he received his Bachelor of
8Education from Chicago Teachers College in 1961; he obtained
9his Master of Science and Education from Illinois State
10Teachers College in Chicago in 1965; he earned his doctoral
11degree in Education from Nova University in 1976; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead began his career in education with
13the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) at Beale Elementary School in
141961; within ten years, he was appointed principal of Chalmers
15Elementary School; in 1972, he became principal of Hess Upper
16Grade Center, where he served for five years before being
17appointed principal of Foreman High School; from 1982 through
181988, he directed basic skills improvement programs for 75
19high schools; he served as executive director of the CPS High
20School Renaissance Program and later as director of Program
21Planning and Development for the CPS Office of Field
22Superintendent-High Schools; after serving as CPS District 4
23Superintendent from 1988 to 1992, he left Chicago to become

 

 

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1the General Superintendent of Racine, Wisconsin Unified School
2District; he held this position until his retirement in 1997;
3upon returning to Chicago, he worked as a consultant for a
4number of school districts; he also served as a faculty member
5at local colleges and universities, including Chicago State
6University, DePaul University, the Chicago Consortium of
7Colleges and Universities, Roosevelt University, Governors
8State University, National College of Education (now part of
9National-Louis University), and Harvard University; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead was the founder and president of
11Winning Wellness, LLP; since 1992, his consulting company has
12provided educational advice specifically around teacher and
13administrator training designed to improve student
14performance; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead was a volunteer leader in many
16programs and activities that helped to improve the quality of
17life for people in his community; he volunteered as a
18consultant to the White House Conference on Secondary Schools,
19as chairman for the Leadership Volunteer Council at Chicago
20State University, as a member of the Advisory Committee for
21Carthage College (WI), as a board member of Junior
22Achievement, Inc. (Chicago and Racine, Wisconsin), and, most
23recently, as a board member of Matteson Elementary School
24District School 162 Board of Education; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead authored several articles and
2textbooks, including Target Reading Series with Laidlaw
3Brothers Publishers, Good English with Laidlaw Brothers
4Publishers, and Language Experience Program with Laidlaw
5Brothers Publishers; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead has been recognized for his
7community support and leadership; he was a recipient of the
8Outstanding Achievement in Public Service Award from Chicago
9State University in 2009; he received the Urban League
10Education Award in Kenosha/Racine, Wisconsin in 1992; he was
11named Principal of the Year by the Citizens Schools Committee
12in Chicago in 1982, Educator of the Year by the Phi Delta Kappa
13Chicago Chapter in 1981-1982, and Most Distinguished Man of
14Illinois from the Continuing Academic Training Children and
15Youth Services, Inc. in 2017; and
 
16    WHEREAS, On March 7, 1959, Dr. Armstead was initiated into
17the Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated;
18as a member, he served in several positions, such as polemarch
19of the Chicago Alumni Chapter, Chairman of the Chicago Alumni
20Chapter Scholarship Committee, and president of the Edward G.
21Irvin Foundation, Inc.; he was the recipient of the Most
22Distinguished Alumni Award of North Central Province in 1999;
23he was given the Edward G. Irvin Foundation, Inc. Award in 2009

 

 

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1for his role in assisting young men/students to become
2productive citizens; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead committed to his faith at an early
4age; he was a member of New Faith Baptist Church
5International, where he served in the Men's Ministry and was
6the chairman of the Education Pathways Ministry; he married
7his wife Sharon at New Faith in 2006; they met in 1990 and
8enjoyed over 30 wonderful years together; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead was preceded in death by his
10parents; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Armstead leaves cherished memories with his
12daughters' mother, Judith Armstead; his daughters, Annyce
13Armstead and Alison Armstead; his wife, Sharon Cruse Armstead;
14his stepchildren, Celeste Boyd, Charmaine Boyd, and Thomas
15Boyd Sr.; his grandchildren, Amanda Story, Demery Major
16Armstead McLaughlin, Ricky E.K. Smalling, Cerena Hudson, and
17Thomas Boyd Jr.; his great-grandchildren, Adjua Beck El, Zaria
18Story, and Emery McLaughlin; his brother-in-law, Paul Cruse
19Jr.; his cousin, Albert Gaston Jr.; his host of nieces and
20nephews; and his other loved one; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
22HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

 

 

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1we mourn the passing of Major Armstead Jr., Ed.D. and extend
2our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
3knew and loved him; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Dr. Major Armstead as an expression
6of our deepest sympathy.