SR1408 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1408 LRB101 22143 LAW 73167 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of LeArthur "Lee" Dunlap of Chicago, who passed away on August 6, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Mattie Fowler and Othur Dunlap on March 28, 1923; he graduated from DuSable High School in June 1941, where he served in the ROTC for three years; he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1942, where he was one of the first 277 African American sailors allowed to join the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor; he studied to become an Electrician Mate "A" in Hampton, Virginia and was selected as the "honor man" of his class; he was subsequently promoted to Electrician Mate 3 and was assigned to a minesweeper in Cape May, New Jersey, where he successfully advocated for fair treatment of the African American sailors with whom he served; he was honorably discharged in January 1946; he earned his B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Public Administration from Roosevelt University in January 1949 yet struggled to obtain employment in his chosen field; moving to France to escape racism, he earned a diploma from the University of Paris, also known as the Sorbonne; he loved to play guitar and supported himself by playing in jazz clubs in Chicago and in Paris; he married Hildegard Krings, and she preceded him in death in 2005; he later married Debra Swanigan; and

WHEREAS, While in Europe, Lee Dunlap joined the U.S. State Department and was sent to school to learn German; he later returned to Chicago with his family; he joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1962, where he served for more than 25 years; he had a very distinguished government career working with several agencies in intelligence and international security, including the IRS, the ATF, the FBI, and the FAA; he was a part of the group that launched the international sky marshal program for the FAA; he became the FAA security ambassador to Africa; fluent in French, he frequently traveled to the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Gabon, and Benin; for most of his career, he was often the only African American and worked to blaze the trail for others; he became an expert in terrorism and traveled the world training airport security on how to handle bombs; he received many honors and commendations during his career; and

WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap started his second career as a teacher and administrator at Malcolm X College and the Westside Learning Center in Chicago, where he was considered an integral member of the staff and was loved by all; and

WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap served as the president of the WWII Black Navy Veterans of Lake County; he will be remembered for his intelligence, his ambition, his leadership qualities, and his insatiable thirst for knowledge; and

WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap was preceded in death by his siblings, Leroy Dunlap, Otis Dunlap, Vera Lisenby, Queen Dunlap-Fowler, Ed Smith, Judy Smith, Shirley Smith, Paula Jean Dunlap, Joyce Dunlap, and Bernie Dunlap; and

WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap is survived by his wife, Debra Dunlap; his daughters, Karin Banks and Heide Groomes; his son-in-law, Oscar Groomes; his stepsons, James Arthur and Alfonso Swanigan; his grandchildren, William Johnson (Cassandra), Shahn Auronas (Nancy), Garrett Evans, Akilah Gillette, Shakira Johnson, Brianna Banks, Jasmine Swanigan, Tevin Jones, Victory Swanigan, James Swanigan, Joy Swanigan, Jeremiah Swanigan, Jason Groomes (Brianna), Patrice Groomes, and Andrew Groomes; his great-grandchildren, Jade Wilkins, Karinah Wilkins, Laila Toby, Aliya Strickland, Adrianna Gillette, Xavier Gillette, Deondray Brown, JaMylah Brown, Isabella Watkins, DeAngelo Dandridge, and Maelyn Groomes; his goddaughter, Christina Bobbi Jackson; and his siblings, Frank Smith, Fred Dunlap (Frances), Carlos Dunlap (Mary), Lari Dunlap (Gail), and Don Fowler; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of LeArthur "Lee" Dunlap and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lee Dunlap as an expression of our deepest sympathy.