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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Charles Dukes Jr., who passed away on
4January 16, 2024; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Charles Dukes was born to Charles and Ada L.
6Dukes in Chicago on May 29, 1949; he graduated from Dunbar
7Vocational High School in Chicago in 1968; he earned a
8Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations from Alabama A&M
9University in Huntsville, Alabama; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Charles Dukes began his 37-year federal
11contracting career with the U.S. Department of the Army at the
12Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, and he was later
13reassigned to the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island,
14Illinois; he transferred to the Defense Logistics Agency in
15Chicago, where he served as deputy for small business for many
16years; he then joined the Department of Veterans Affairs
17National Acquisition Center as a member of the management
18team; before retiring, he transferred to the General Services
19Administration, where he performed contracting activities for
20federal agencies procuring complex information technology
21systems; he was a respected and beloved co-worker and friend
22to many; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Charles Dukes was a consummate entrepreneur,
2owning many businesses over the years, including a laundromat,
3a parking garage, and cabs dispatched out of the Peoples Cab
4Company; after retirement, he owned a construction company
5with his partner and friend, Abel Saenz; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Charles Dukes was baptized in the Baptist faith,
7but he attended St. Eulalia Catholic Church with his wife; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Charles Dukes' kind and compassionate nature was
9highlighted by the care he provided to his family in their time
10of need; he was a wonderful father to his children, never
11saying "no" to their requests, and he was proud of their
12individual accomplishments; he loved his wife, children, and
13family unconditionally; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Charles Dukes was preceded in death by his
15parents and his brothers, Marshall, Tony, Rodney, and Robert;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Charles Dukes is survived by his wife, Gay; his
18sisters, Gloria and Diane; his children, Charles, Felicia,
19William (Dana), and Lindsey; his grandchildren, Jahazz,
20Ashley, Amber, Christopher, Sheldon, Aaron, and Tamia; his
21special nephews, Dujuan, Terrance, and Robert; his special
22friends, Lawrence Bogus and Shirley (John) Robinson; numerous

 

 

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1cousins, nieces, and nephews; the Hanson family; the McGee
2family; and many friends; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Charles Dukes Jr. and extend our sincere condolences to his
6family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Charles Dukes as an expression of
10our deepest sympathy.