093_HR0397

 
                                     LRB093 12159 HSS 17154 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, McKinley "Deacon" Davis was born  on  August  3,
 3    1932  in  Freeport  to McKinley and Josephine Davis; he was a
 4    graduate of Freeport High School in 1951; the same  year,  he
 5    was  an  All-State  center  for  the  Freeport Pretzels State
 6    Champion Team; and

 7        WHEREAS, Deacon Davis graduated from  the  University  of
 8    Iowa  in  1955, where he played basketball for four years; he
 9    married Lillie Burton on October 18, 1958; and

10        WHEREAS, Deacon  Davis  may  be  best  remembered  as  an
11    original  member of the Harlem Globetrotters and was a member
12    of that team from 1955 to 1957; and

13        WHEREAS, Mr. Davis went on to work  as  director  of  the
14    Washington   Park   Community   Center  (Concord  Center)  in
15    Rockford, as recreation supervisor  with  the  Rockford  Park
16    District,  and as executive director of the Booker Washington
17    Center in Rockford; and

18        WHEREAS, Mr. Davis spent a  great  portion  of  his  life
19    working  for Northern Illinois University; he was the founder
20    of the Northern  Illinois  University  C.H.A.N.C.E.  program,
21    which is soon to be renamed in his honor; and

22        WHEREAS,  In  1981,  Mr.  Davis  was selected to join the
23    Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of  Fame  and  in  2000,  he
24    earned  the University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award; he
25    passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2003; and

26        WHEREAS, On Sunday, June 22, 2003,  the  Ethnic  Heritage
27    Museum  will host a "Tribute to Deacon Davis" in honor of his
28    many accomplishments throughout his life; therefore, be it

29        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
30    NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
 
                            -2-      LRB093 12159 HSS 17154 r
 1    we recognize the  many  contributions  of  McKinley  "Deacon"
 2    Davis  to  the  citizens  of the State of Illinois; and be it
 3    further

 4        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 5    presented  to  the family of Deacon Davis as an expression of
 6    our deepest respect and esteem for the many contributions  he
 7    made during his lifetime.