HR0554LRB097 13981 GRL 58595 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of William
4Eric "Doc" Perkins; and
 
5    WHEREAS, William Perkins was born on September 3, 1948, in
6Chicago; his parents were Betty L. Mason and Darrell J.
7Perkins; he was baptized at St. Finbar Catholic Church on the
8west side of Chicago and attended St. Dorothy's and Mendel
9Catholic High School; and
 
10    WHEREAS, In 1966, William Perkins began attending
11Northwestern University in Evanston, where he graduated with
12honors with a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1970; while in
13college, he pledged with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was a
14"founding officer" of the "For Members Only" (FMO)
15organization, which spearheaded the Northwestern University
16"Takeover" in 1968; he subsequently earned his master's degree
17from the University of Rochester and his Ph.D in history from
18the City University of New York; and
 
19    WHEREAS, William Perkins educated hundreds of students at a
20variety of institutions; he served as a faculty fellow at the
21W.E.B. DuBois House at the University of Pennsylvania; he was
22an adjunct professor of communications at Hunter College at

 

 

HR0554- 2 -LRB097 13981 GRL 58595 r

1City University of New York; he was an assistant professor with
2the African American Studies department at Temple University;
3he also served with Educational Testing Service for 13 years;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, William Perkins was well known throughout the
6academic community in the United States and beyond; he wrote
7and lectured on various topics, including slavery, Caribbean
8history, urban studies, and American popular culture; his
9classes inspired hundreds of students to become rigorous
10critical thinkers, ardent political activists, and scholars;
11and
 
12    WHEREAS, William Perkins was the author of "Droppin'
13Science: Critical Essays on Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture",
14which was published by Temple University Press in 1996; the
15book is still considered a critical text in the field of hip
16hop scholarship; and
 
17    WHEREAS, William Perkins enjoyed watching sports and was
18particularly thrilled and excited when the New Orleans Saints
19recently won the Super Bowl; he also enjoyed cooking,
20photography, and traveling to various countries of the African
21Diaspora, including Cuba, Brazil, Grenada, Aruba, and Jamaica;
22he particularly enjoyed learning about and experiencing Creole
23culture; and
 

 

 

HR0554- 3 -LRB097 13981 GRL 58595 r

1    WHEREAS, William Perkins is survived by his daughter, Sonya
2Perkins; his son, Logan Bailey Perkins; his grandsons, Miles,
3Charlie, and Julian Perkins; his sister, Darlene Perkins
4Tribue; his brothers, Antonio Burketh (Lydia) and Lance
5Richards; his nephews, Edward "Kippy" Tribue (Helen) and Shawn
6Richards (Miriam); his aunt, Joan Mason; his brothers-in-law,
7Edward and Randall Tribue; and his many nieces, nephews,
8cousins, friends, and colleagues; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
12William Eric "Doc" Perkins; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of William Perkins as an expression of
15our sympathy.