HR1629 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1629 LRB095 23102 KXB 53723 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of William E. Brazley of Olympia Fields, who passed away November 8, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Architect William E. Brazley Jr. left his mark on the skyline of Chicago, the suburbs and O'Hare Airport, but one of his proudest moments was when he stepped on the golf course at Olympia Fields Country Club in 1992; Mr. Brazley and Eric Johnson, the former head of Johnson Products Company, were the first two African Americans voted into the old-line country club by the membership; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Brazley started William E. Brazley & Associates Ltd., a Matteson architectural company, with his wife, Peggy, in 1975; they built the company into a one of the largest minority-owned architectural firms in the Midwest, with more than 40 employees and two additional offices; the company completed more than 500 projects during its 30-year history; and

WHEREAS, In addition, the firm designed and built the $50 million joint cargo facility at O'Hare Airport for Lufthansa and Air France Airlines, the $40 million convocation center at Chicago State University, and the Maywood public works facility, as well as numerous schools, churches, and educational municipal buildings in the Chicago area, Michigan, and Indiana; and

WHEREAS, The company also worked with other builders on major ventures including the McCormick Place Annex, the United Terminal at O'Hare, Navy Pier expansion, and the modernization of Cook County Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Brazley was a graduate of Thornton High School in Harvey and Purdue University and did advanced work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; before starting his firm he was director of facilities management and assistant budget director at Governors State University; and

WHEREAS, He was an accomplished chef who was proud of his gumbo; he had an extensive outdoor kitchen that was once featured on a home and garden television show; and

WHEREAS, William Brazley is survived by his wife, Peggy; his two sons, Kerry and Kendall; five grandchildren; and his Goddaughter, Bettie Lewis; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of William Brazley; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of William E. Brazley as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.