SR0056 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0056 LRB096 09331 GRL 19485 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Larry Hawkins of Chicago, who passed away on January 30, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Larry Hawkins was born in Chicago on December 12, 1930; he attended Douglass Elementary School and was a 1948 graduate of Wendell Phillips High School, where he was a star basketball player; he then received his associate's degree from Wilson Junior College, his bachelor's degree at George Williams College, and his master's degrees from George Williams College and Roosevelt University; and

WHEREAS, Larry Hawkins served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the U.S. Army; and

WHEREAS, Larry Hawkins played basketball with the Brown Bombers, a spinoff of the Harlem Globetrotters, under the name Hawk Washington; and

WHEREAS, In the late 1950s, Larry Hawkins took over as coach of the basketball program at Carver High School, where he coached the varsity basketball team to a second place finish in the IHSA State Championship game in 1962 and led Carver to the championship in 1963; he also coached girls' volleyball at Hyde Park High School and taught square and round dancing in Chicago and, during the summertime, in Europe; and

WHEREAS, Larry Hawkins served as director of the Office of Special Programs-College Prep at the University of Chicago since 1968; the program provides tutors and classes, sponsors trips to college campuses, and helps young people increase their opportunities to continue their education beyond high school; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, Larry Hawkins founded the Institute for Athletics and Education to work with student athletes; he also served as president of Big Buddies Youth Services, which dealt with troubled youths; and

WHEREAS, Larry Hawkins was named Coach of the Year by the city's Prep Sports Writers Association in 1962 and 1963 in recognition of his work; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Larry Hawkins; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Larry Hawkins as an expression of our sympathy.