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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Dr. Rufus Starks of Centreville, who
4passed away on March 11, 2011; and
 
5    WHEREAS, He was born January 2, 1915, in Benton County,
6Mississippi; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Dr. Starks was the recipient of numerous honors,
8awards, and commendations for his hard work and service to the
9community; he received accolades from the NAACP, Phi Delta
10Kappa, the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the East St. Louis
11Teacher's Union Local 1220, and the American Federation of
12Teachers; his Masonic honors included: serving as the 28th most
13worshipful grand master of Prince Hall Masons State of Illinois
14and its Jurisdiction 1985-1986 and as a Sovereign Grand
15Inspector General of the United Supreme Council
16A.A.S.R.P.H.A.; and
 
17    WHEREAS, In 1955, he was a charter member of the East St.
18Louis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; he had
19served as a Trustee of Wiley College, Police Commissioner for
20the City of Centreville, Chaplain of the St. Clair County Jail,
21a member of Ministers United Against Human Suffering, as well
22as many other positions of service; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, He was a junior high school teacher, an assistant
2and head football coach, assistant principal and principal at
3the junior high school level, assistant high school principal,
4assistant superintendent of schools, and superintendent of
5schools for East St. Louis School District 189; he also served
6as the East St. Louis Park District Superintendent; and
 
7    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, nee
8Wren, Starks, with whom he shared 49 years of marriage; his
9parents, Oliver and Willie, nee Williams, Starks Jr.; his
10brother, Nathan Starks; and his son, Oliver Starks; and
 
11    WHEREAS, He leaves to mourn his passing his daughters, Ruth
12J. Starks and Gwendolyn W. Hill; his grandsons, Justin Hill and
13Broderick Hill Jr.; his godsons, Michael P. Johnson and Melvin
14Frierson; his goddaughter, Gwendolyn Hoosman-Jones; his
15special nephew, Cecil (Twanna) Barnett; his cousins, Joyce
16Gaddis and Barbara Vaughn; his devoted niece and caretaker,
17Katrina R. Sturdivant; his caretakers, Iola Harrington and
18Pearl McCorkle; his 6 brothers-in-law; his 7 sisters-in-law;
19and a host of other relatives and friends; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
22his family and friends, the passing of Dr. Rufus Starks; and be

 

 

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1it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Dr. Rufus Starks as a symbol of our
4sincere sympathy.