SR1036 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1036 LRB103 40119 ECR 71769 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Willie E. Johnson of Olympia Fields, who passed away on March 21, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Willie Johnson was born on December 10, 1939; he graduated from Pearl Senior High School in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lettered in football; he received a bachelor's degree from Fisk University in Nashville, where he continued to play football and was initiated into the Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 1962; he earned master's degrees from Northeastern Illinois University and Concordia University in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Willie Johnson, while offered a professional contract with the Canadian Football League, instead pursued a career in education; he was a dedicated teacher for Chicago Public Schools for over 30 years, which included working at James R. Doolittle Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, Willie Johnson was a lifelong member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and he served as a graduate advisor to the Epsilon Omega Chapter at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and as the 7th Polemarch of the Chicago Heights Alumni Chapter; and

WHEREAS, Willie Johnson was committed and dedicated to making an impact in his community; he will be remembered for leading with both his words and his actions; and

WHEREAS, Willie Johnson is survived by his wife, two children, his brother, two sisters, and a host of relatives; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Willie E. Johnson 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 Willie Johnson as an expression of our deepest sympathy.