SR0239 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0239 LRB098 11775 MST 44848 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Jacoby Dickens of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Jacoby Dickens was born in Panama City, Florida, in 1932; he and his family moved to Chicago's south side early in his childhood; he graduated from Wendell Phillips High School and went into business as a real estate developer in the same south side neighborhoods where he was raised; and

WHEREAS, Jacoby Dickens would purchase, renovate, and lease apartment buildings in Chicago; during the height of his success he managed more than 100 apartments; in 1971, he sold his real estate holdings and purchased several bowling alleys in Chicago and began running those; while running the bowling alleys, he joined the board of Seaway National Bank, one of the largest African American-owned financial institutions in the country; he joined Seaway National in 1979 as vice-chairman and became chairman in 1983; and

WHEREAS, Jacoby Dickens has distinguished himself with his philanthropic efforts; he designed a loan and scholarship program at DePaul University named in his honor and has donated more than $1 million to Chicago State University; on December 7, 1995, the Chicago State University Physical Education and Athletics Building was renamed the Jacoby D. Dickens Physical Education and Athletics Center; and

WHEREAS, Jacoby Dickens embodied the spirit of Chicago State University; he valued education and dedicated himself to helping the university achieve its mission to help students; he had extensive involvement with many aspects of the university, including serving on the board of trustees for the university and the board of directors of the Chicago State University Foundation; his commitment to education will live on in The Jacoby Dickens Endowment Fund, which provides scholarships to multiple students annually, allowing these students to more easily afford higher education; and

WHEREAS, Jacoby Dickens's is survived by his wife, Veranda, and all the Dickens family; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Jacoby Dickens, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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