SR1408LRB101 22143 LAW 73167 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of LeArthur "Lee" Dunlap of Chicago, who
4passed away on August 6, 2020; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to
6Mattie Fowler and Othur Dunlap on March 28, 1923; he graduated
7from DuSable High School in June 1941, where he served in the
8ROTC for three years; he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July
91942, where he was one of the first 277 African American
10sailors allowed to join the Navy after the attack on Pearl
11Harbor; he studied to become an Electrician Mate "A" in
12Hampton, Virginia and was selected as the "honor man" of his
13class; he was subsequently promoted to Electrician Mate 3 and
14was assigned to a minesweeper in Cape May, New Jersey, where he
15successfully advocated for fair treatment of the African
16American sailors with whom he served; he was honorably
17discharged in January 1946; he earned his B.A. in Political
18Science and a minor in Public Administration from Roosevelt
19University in January 1949 yet struggled to obtain employment
20in his chosen field; moving to France to escape racism, he
21earned a diploma from the University of Paris, also known as
22the Sorbonne; he loved to play guitar and supported himself by
23playing in jazz clubs in Chicago and in Paris; he married
24Hildegard Krings, and she preceded him in death in 2005; he

 

 

SR1408- 2 -LRB101 22143 LAW 73167 r

1later married Debra Swanigan; and
 
2    WHEREAS, While in Europe, Lee Dunlap joined the U.S. State
3Department and was sent to school to learn German; he later
4returned to Chicago with his family; he joined the U.S. Army
5Reserve in 1962, where he served for more than 25 years; he had
6a very distinguished government career working with several
7agencies in intelligence and international security, including
8the IRS, the ATF, the FBI, and the FAA; he was a part of the
9group that launched the international sky marshal program for
10the FAA; he became the FAA security ambassador to Africa;
11fluent in French, he frequently traveled to the Ivory Coast,
12Senegal, Gabon, and Benin; for most of his career, he was often
13the only African American and worked to blaze the trail for
14others; he became an expert in terrorism and traveled the world
15training airport security on how to handle bombs; he received
16many honors and commendations during his career; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap started his second career as a teacher
18and administrator at Malcolm X College and the Westside
19Learning Center in Chicago, where he was considered an integral
20member of the staff and was loved by all; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap served as the president of the WWII
22Black Navy Veterans of Lake County; he will be remembered for
23his intelligence, his ambition, his leadership qualities, and

 

 

SR1408- 3 -LRB101 22143 LAW 73167 r

1his insatiable thirst for knowledge; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap was preceded in death by his siblings,
3Leroy Dunlap, Otis Dunlap, Vera Lisenby, Queen Dunlap-Fowler,
4Ed Smith, Judy Smith, Shirley Smith, Paula Jean Dunlap, Joyce
5Dunlap, and Bernie Dunlap; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Lee Dunlap is survived by his wife, Debra Dunlap;
7his daughters, Karin Banks and Heide Groomes; his son-in-law,
8Oscar Groomes; his stepsons, James Arthur and Alfonso Swanigan;
9his grandchildren, William Johnson (Cassandra), Shahn Auronas
10(Nancy), Garrett Evans, Akilah Gillette, Shakira Johnson,
11Brianna Banks, Jasmine Swanigan, Tevin Jones, Victory
12Swanigan, James Swanigan, Joy Swanigan, Jeremiah Swanigan,
13Jason Groomes (Brianna), Patrice Groomes, and Andrew Groomes;
14his great-grandchildren, Jade Wilkins, Karinah Wilkins, Laila
15Toby, Aliya Strickland, Adrianna Gillette, Xavier Gillette,
16Deondray Brown, JaMylah Brown, Isabella Watkins, DeAngelo
17Dandridge, and Maelyn Groomes; his goddaughter, Christina
18Bobbi Jackson; and his siblings, Frank Smith, Fred Dunlap
19(Frances), Carlos Dunlap (Mary), Lari Dunlap (Gail), and Don
20Fowler; therefore, be it
 
21    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
22ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
23LeArthur "Lee" Dunlap and extend our sincere condolences to his

 

 

SR1408- 4 -LRB101 22143 LAW 73167 r

1family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Lee Dunlap as an expression of our
5deepest sympathy.