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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor Louis L. Freeman, the
4 first African-American Chief Pilot for Southwest Airlines and
5 all other major carriers; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Not only is Louis L. Freeman the first
7 African-American Chief Pilot for any major carrier, he entered
8 history as head of the Southwest Airlines flight crew that
9 transported the body of deceased civil rights icon Rosa Parks
10 in 2005; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Louis Freeman is the chief-pilot for Southwest
12 Airlines, one of America's most highly regarded companies; the
13 airline is famous for its commitment to superb service and it
14 is an honor that Louis Freeman was awarded both the airline's
15 Winning Spirit Award and the President's Award; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman is a man of firsts, with his list
17 beginning in high school when he and his brother were the first
18 students to integrate Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas,
19 Texas; Mr. Freeman was his high school and college R.O.T.C.
20 Corps Commander; at East Texas State University he attained the
21 rank of Colonel, receiving numerous awards and medals; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Louis Freeman was a top East Texas State
2 University graduate in 1974, and was also the first
3 African-American to attend Air Force Pilot Training; he was
4 assigned to Mather Air Force Base, where he flew T43s and
5 became the first second lieutenant to become a squadron
6 scheduler and one of the first to become an instructor pilot
7 and supervisor of flying; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman was also honored as Squadron Pilot of
9 the Year for the 454th Flight Training Squadron; he left the
10 United States Air Force with the rank of captain; at Southwest
11 Airlines, Mr. Freeman inaugurated a Chicago pilot crew base
12 with 150 pilots that grew to more than 1,000 pilots, and a
13 staff of four assistant chief pilots; he resolves issues and
14 concerns with governmental partners, ensures pilots meet the
15 company objectives, effectively manages the crew base budget,
16 and helps determine company policy; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
19 congratulate Louis Freeman on being a man of firsts and commend
20 him for his hard work and dedication to his career; and be it
21 further
 
22     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
23 presented to Louis L. Freeman as a symbol of our esteem and

 

 

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1 respect.