093_SR0314
LRB093 14322 HSS 19898 r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of
3 Illinois learned with regret of the death of Silas Purnell on
4 Saturday, November 1, 2003; and
5 WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell was born on March 10, 1923 in
6 Chicago; he graduated from Wendell Phillips High School; in
7 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army; he spent three years of
8 service in Tuskegee, Alabama; he married Marilyn Anderson in
9 1946; and
10 WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell held a bachelor's degree in foreign
11 trade; he attended the Sheil Institute, Roosevelt University,
12 and Northwestern University; he worked for Coca-Cola Co. and
13 was the founder of the preparation and placement program at
14 Ada S. McKinley Community Services; and
15 WHEREAS, Through his work at Ada S. McKinley, Mr. Purnell
16 devoted his life to making grants available to needy teens;
17 he was instrumental in helping over 50,000 young people get
18 grants for education; he believed that any student who had
19 the will and determination could get a college education;
20 many students who went through the program obtained graduate,
21 doctorate, medical, and law degrees; and
22 WHEREAS, Mr. Purnell was a member of Pilgrim Baptist
23 Church; he continued to reach out to young people to further
24 their education while being bedridden the last two years of
25 his life; and
26 WHEREAS, The passing of Mr. Purnell has been deeply felt
27 by many, especially his wife, Marilyn; his children,
28 Rosalind, Rolinda, Donna, and Ronald; his sister, June
29 Phillips; his brother, Morris; his six grandchildren; and his
30 five great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
31 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
-2- LRB093 14322 HSS 19898 r
1 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing
2 of Silas Purnell, and we extend our sincerest condolences to
3 his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be
4 it further
5 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6 presented to the family of Mr. Purnell as an expression of
7 our deepest sympathy in the loss of a man whose passion for
8 the education of needy students will continue to live on in
9 the hearts and minds of those he assisted.