HR1332 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1332 LRB094 20619 HSS 58932 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death of Zedrick Thomas Braden Jr. on Thursday, May 4, 2006; and

WHEREAS, He was born on May 31, 1927, in Chicago to Bernice and Zedrick T. Braden Sr.; as a child, he joined the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Life Scout; he graduated from Wendell Phillips High School in 1944 and was later inducted into its Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Braden received his B.A. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1949; while a student at the U of I, he was inducted into the Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity; the University of Illinois is also where he met the love of his life, Mary Jane Connell; they were married on June 28, 1953, in Champaign; and

WHEREAS, As a young man, he gradually lost his eyesight; he viewed his blindness as a minor inconvenience and not allowing it to impede him, he followed in his father's footsteps and studied law at John Marshall Law School; in 1955, he passed the Illinois bar exam and joined his father and other colleagues in the law firm of Braden, Hall, Barnes, and Moss; he remained in the active practice of law for almost 50 years and was an inspiration to many; and

WHEREAS, The community of Park Manor was transitional in 1953, and Mr. Braden became a community activist who spearheaded leadership and conservation; he served as President of the Park Manor Neighbors Community Council for 25 years; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Braden served as Deputy Liquor License Commissioner and Administrative Hearing Officer for the City of Chicago for 22 years; he was also a lifetime member of the County Bar Association and a member of the National Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Judicial Council, the Illinois State Bar Association, and a member of the Board of Directors of Chicago Ventures; for several years he was a contributing columnist for the Citizen newspaper; and

WHEREAS, As a devoted father, Mr. Braden participated in the scouting program of Troop 534, the Tanner Elementary School PTA, the Hirsch High School Educational Council, and the Hirsch High School Dad's Club; and

WHEREAS, Zedrick Braden Jr. was an inspiration to many and his passing has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Mary Jane; his sons, Zedrick (Diane) and Stanton; his grandsons, Daniel, Alec, and Miles Braden; his brother, Everette Braden (Mary Jeanette); his sister, Ruth Robertson (Fay); his cousins, Patricia Blake, Excellene (William), and "Murrill" and Betty Neely and family; his sister-in-law, Gladys Burris (Howard); his nieces, Jane Cartwright, Marilynne Braden, Lisa Kay Robertson, Cheryl Burris, and Brenda Smith (Vit); his nephews, Michael Burris (Myra) and Jeffrey Robertson (Deborah); and his numerous other cousins, extended family, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Zedrick Thomas Braden Jr., and we extend our deepest sympathy 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 his family as an expression of our sincerest condolences.