HR0889LRB097 20933 GRL 67988 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Robert
4Lewis Lucas; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas was born on January 10, 1925; his
6mother was Marie Lucas; he was raised by his grandparents in
7Ronceverte, West Virginia; he married Anna Huffman on January
820, 1956; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas completed his primary education at
10Cherry Rowe and Christopher Payne Elementary Schools in
11Ronceverte, West Virginia; he subsequently attended Bolling
12High School in Lewisburg, West Virginia; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas was drafted into the United States
14Army on August 6, 1943; he served in Europe and was honorably
15discharged in 1945; and
 
16    WHEREAS, After the war, Robert Lucas came to Chicago, where
17he received his high school diploma from Wendell Phillips Night
18School; he then earned his associate's degree from Wilson
19College before enrolling in Roosevelt College (now Roosevelt
20University); and
 

 

 

HR0889- 2 -LRB097 20933 GRL 67988 r

1    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas began his career as a civil rights
2activist in 1959; he was a founding member of the Congress of
3Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) and became the Chairman of the
4Chicago Chapter of C.O.R.E. in 1965; in 1968, he joined the
5Black Liberation Alliance and became Executive Director of the
6Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (K.O.C.O.); he retired
7from his leadership position in K.O.C.O. in 2000, but continued
8to regularly attend the organization's meetings; and
 
9    WHEREAS, During his tenure at K.O.C.O., Robert Lucas was
10instrumental in the organization's efforts to keep the
11Blackstone Rangers gang away from the Kenwood neighborhood of
12Chicago; he is also responsible for numerous initiatives to
13revitalize the Kenwood neighborhood and the creation of many
14improvements to the neighborhood, including the KOMED Holman
15Medical Center; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas was a member of the Congregational
17Church of Park Manor, United Church of Christ; he was an
18ordained deacon, a life member of the church's Justice and
19Witness Committee, an officer in the Men's Fellowship, an
20active member of the January Birth Month Circle, and a past
21Vice Moderator and Moderator of the church; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas enjoyed traveling with his wife; they
23enjoyed multiple cruises to the Caribbean, and extensively

 

 

HR0889- 3 -LRB097 20933 GRL 67988 r

1traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and
2several European countries; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas was preceded in death by his beloved
4stepson, William (Billy) Raymond Porter; his mother; his
5grandparents; and 13 aunts and uncles; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Robert Lucas is survived by his adoring wife,
7Anna; his son, Lambert; his uncle, Calvin (Buddy) Lucas; his
8aunt, Daisy Wood; and his many nieces, nephews, cousins, and
9friends; therefore, be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
13Robert Lewis Lucas; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Robert Lucas as an expression of our
16sympathy.