HR0954 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0954 LRB103 43340 LAW 76654 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Carroll Ray Phelps, Ph.D., who passed away on November 15, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps was born to Cecil and Hazel Phelps in Texas City on January 3, 1946; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps was the bass singer and comedic relief for The Phelps Brothers, a gospel quartet that included his three brothers and was formed after they competed in and won a talent contest in 1955; they spent the next 65-plus years singing gospel music all over the United States and sang full-time professionally from 1972 to 1978, during which they toured with other well-known gospel groups, including The Oak Ridge Boys, The Stamps Quartet, and The Blackwood Brothers Quartet; during their musical career, they were nominated as Best New Group by the Gospel Music Association in 1973 and were also the first gospel group to sing at the new Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps was a leader in the field of education, both as a teacher and an administrator, becoming known for constantly seeking ways to improve the educational process and implementing many programs to benefit the learning environment of his students; he began his teaching career at Eldorado High School (EHS); he served as president of the Eldorado teachers' union in the early 1970s and led one of the first teachers' strikes in the State of Illinois; he became principal of EHS in 1988; during his tenure, he opened a child care center located inside the school, allowing students with young children to continue their studies and thereby ensuring many obtained their high school diplomas; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps became superintendent of Gallatin County Schools after earning his Ph.D. in Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1996; while there, he recognized that students and their families lacked access to medical care, leading him to coordinate with a health system in Evansville, Indiana to create the Gallatin County Wellness Center, which has been providing primary care services for the Gallatin County community since 2003; near the end of his career, he became a faculty member and professor at Oakland City University in Indiana, where he started a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) doctoral program, before concluding his career as superintendent of Hardin County Schools; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps was devoted to his faith throughout his entire life and was a member of Star General Baptist Church, where he was the longest-serving member prior to his death and served in many capacities, including as a choir member, the Sunday school superintendent, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of numerous committees; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps kept very close relationships with his sons and especially enjoyed spending time with his family at church and family dinners on Sundays; he and his wife were inseparable, and they loved doing things together; he and his brothers were each other's best friends, and they enjoyed having dinner together with their wives in Marion on Friday nights; he dearly loved his grandchildren and enjoyed attending their sporting events, recitals, and plays; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Phelps is survived by his wife, Chris Phelps; his sons, Kelly (Kelly Lynne) Phelps and Aaron (Arianne) Phelps; his grandchildren, Kennedy Carroll (Dallas Cockrum) Cockrum, Kole Phelps, Victoria "Tori" Phelps, and Jake Phelps; his great-grandchild, Lyncoln Rae Cockrum; his brothers, Larry (Kathy) Phelps, David (Leslie) Phelps, and Dennis Michael "Mike" (Barbara) Phelps; his brother-in-law, Mark Bauer; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special friend to the family, Sue Easton; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Carroll Ray Phelps, Ph.D. 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 Dr. Phelps as an expression of our deepest sympathy.