SR1979LRB100 23332 MST 42353 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, 
4who passed away on August 18, 2018; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Kofi Atta Annan was born in Ghana on April 8, 
61938; he received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1961 from 
7Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and began working for 
8the U.N. World Health Organization in Geneva; he received a 
9master's degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute 
10of Technology in 1972; and
 
11    WHEREAS, At the start of the Persian Gulf War in 1990, Kofi 
12Annan helped persuade the Iraqis to release 900 U.N. employees 
13and dependents held as hostages; he also organized an airlift 
14of hundreds of thousands of Asian workers back to their 
15original homes; he became Deputy Chief of Peacekeeping for the 
16U.N. in 1992, and Chief of Peacekeeping the following year; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Kofi Annan led the United Nations as Secretary 
18General from 1997 to 2006; he was the seventh secretary general 
19in the history of the U.N. and the first black African to hold 
20the position; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Kofi Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 
 
 
SR1979- 2 -LRB100 23332 MST 42353 r

12001, which he shared with the U.N.; and
 
2    WHEREAS, After retiring from the U.N., Kofi Annan took on 
3the role of a wise and noble elder trying to mediate a host of 
4conflicts in Africa; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good; he 
6provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place 
7for problem-solving, and a path to a better world; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Kofi Annan is survived by his wife, Nane 
9Lagergren; two children; and a stepdaughter; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
11ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
12former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and extend our 
13sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew 
14and loved him; and be it further
  
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16presented to  the family of  Kofi Annan as an expression of our 
17deepest sympathy.