HR0781 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0781 LRB094 16128 HSS 51368 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Reverend M. Earle Sardon has served the people of the City of Chicago in ministry for 60 years; and

WHEREAS, Following valiant service in World War II as a member of the U.S. Army, Reverend Sardon returned home to Chicago to fight, through non-violent protests, for the rights of his fellow African Americans; in 1946, he organized the Civil Rights Program, published and edited the Crusader newspaper, campaigned against Wonder Bread Company, and placed the first African-American bread truck driver salesman; by 1947, all of the bread companies had African-American drivers; and

WHEREAS, The fight went on to cover cake, pie, cookie, and laundry truck drivers, whiskey and wine salesmen, and beer companies; in 1949, he opened Andy Frain Co., which placed black ushers at sporting events for the first time; he helped to organize the black garbage truck company owners and led efforts to increase their business; and

WHEREAS, The civil rights movement marched on to include a campaign against Agar Meat Packers, A&P Stores, First National Bank in downtown Chicago, Brinks Money Transport Company, Greyhound Bus Co., El Produto Cigar Co., and ice cream companies; during 1961 and 1962, Rev. Sardon joined the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King in Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Chicago; throughout the years, he was arrested for his efforts for civil rights; and

WHEREAS, The Crusaders of Justice was organized in 1978, a group which worked tirelessly to help those less fortunate; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Sardon went on to serve on the Citizens Utility Board, appointed by Governor James Thompson; he helped organize and served as chairman of the Illinois Committee of Churches for Religious Freedom and traveled to every state speaking and organizing for religious freedom; he also organized a State financed homeless shelter and worked to create and maintain a drug prevention program; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Sardon was appointed Director of Americorps' VISTA program site in Chicago in 2003 under the direction of the U.S. Department of Labor; he continues to serve as pastor of Holiness Community Temple, President of the Crusaders of Justice, and as a lecturer, counselor, and crisis mediator; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Reverend M. Earle Sardon, pastor of Holiness Community Temple, for his tireless devotion to civil rights and the needs of others through his ministry spanning 60 years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Reverend Sardon as an expression of our respect and esteem.