HR1272LRB098 22715 GRL 61652 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of James O.
4Boggan; and
 
5    WHEREAS, James Boggan was born on October 15, 1944 in
6Mobile, Alabama; his parents were John and Jimmie Sue Boggan;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, James Boggan developed a love for football at a
9young age in 1963 while attending Williamson High School, where
10he played running back; while there, he led the Lions to
11back-to-back state titles in 1962 and 1963 and set a state
12record for the longest touchdown run in a championship game
13with a 97-yard run; his high school career culminated in an
14athletic scholarship to Jackson State College, where he played
15football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education;
16in 1976, he earned a Master of Arts in Human Development at
17Governors State University; he also played briefly in the
18Canadian Football League; and
 
19    WHEREAS, James Boggan served his country as a member of the
20United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1969; in
211970, he married Bonita; later in life he met Virgil Ann and
22they were married in 2003; and
 

 

 

HR1272- 2 -LRB098 22715 GRL 61652 r

1    WHEREAS, Following his military service, James Boggan
2began a career with the Chicago Public Schools system, where he
3served for 40 years as a teacher and a coach; he served in many
4schools, including Waller High School (Lincoln Park), Victor
5Herbert Elementary School, Collins High School, and Manley High
6School; during that time, he was an irreplaceable part of the
7National Youth Sports Program at Malcolm X College each summer;
8during his tenure, the program was awarded the "Conte for
9Excellence" in 2001, signifying the number one National Youth
10Sports Program in the country, by President Bill Clinton; he
11officially retired in 2003, but continued to teach, mentor, and
12coach until 2013; and
 
13    WHEREAS, James Boggan was inducted into the Illinois High
14School Association Coaching Hall of Fame in 2005; he was also a
15recipient of the Larry Hawkins Award for Excellence in
16Education and Coaching and received the Legacy Award from
17Waller/Lincoln Park High School; and
 
18    WHEREAS, James Boggan accepted Christ in his life at an
19early age; he later joined Broadview Missionary Baptist Church
20under the direction of Reverend Clarence W. Hopson; and
 
21    WHEREAS, James Boggan was preceded in death by 2 sisters,
22Annie Jewel Roberts and Catherine Bogan; and
 

 

 

HR1272- 3 -LRB098 22715 GRL 61652 r

1    WHEREAS, James Boggan is survived by his devoted wife,
2Virgil Ann; brothers, Bobby (Ness) Boggan and John (Willie Bea)
3Boggan; sisters, Alnetha (Carl) Berry and Benita (Donavan)
4Bogan-Ledgister; children, Brian (Rhonda) Boggan, Renee
5Boggan, Tanya (Michael) Ross, Imana Phillips, Ishshah
6Phillips, and Yasmina Phillips; 4 grandchildren; 4
7great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends;
8therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of
12James O. Boggan; and be it further
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14presented to the family of James Boggan as an expression of our
15sympathy.