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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Ora A. Higgins, who passed away on July
425, 2012, at the age of 101, surrounded by her family; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Ora Higgins was born on September 24, 1910, in
6Birmingham, Alabama; she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
7personnel administration and a Master's degree in business law
8from Northwestern University; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Ora Higgins was hired to serve as the first
10African-American personnel director for Spiegel's, Inc., and
11was tasked with integrating its workforce, teaching executives
12and managers the value of diversity, and breaking down racial
13myths and barriers to the participation of people of color in
14the workplace; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Ora Higgins' talents were soon recognized by
16downtown department stores, who asked her to replicate her
17successful program, which she did while insisting on equal pay
18and equal opportunities for African-Americans and encouraging
19those around her, including the Reverend Harold E. Bailey, to
20complete their education; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Ora Higgins devoted herself to the causes of civil

 

 

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1rights, peace, education, employment, and the alleviation of
2poverty; during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, she spoke
3to the United States Department of Labor on the topic of race,
4poverty, and a call to peace; in 1976 she founded the Ora
5Higgins Youth Foundation, which has awarded over $500,000 in
6scholarships to Chicago-area high school graduates and each
7year recognizes outstanding community leaders; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Ora Higgins took a leadership role in a large
9number of civil rights, professional, and community
10organizations and served as the national chairperson for Women
11in Industry; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Ora Higgins received numerous awards including
13the Distinguished Service Award from the Tuskegee Institute and
14an award from the Chicago Association of Commerce; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Ora Higgins is survived by her daughter, Dr.
16Murrell Higgins Duster, and her son, Rev. William "Chico"
17Higgins, 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 3
18great-great-grandchildren; she was also the great-great-aunt
19of First Lady Michelle Obama; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22Ora Higgins, and we extend our sincere condolences to her

 

 

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1family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Ora A. Higgins as an expression of
5our sympathy.