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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
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learn of the death of Frederick "Freddie" Birth of East St. 
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Louis, who passed away on June 1, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Frederick "Freddie" Birth grew up in East St. 
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Louis and confessed Christ at an early age; he was a graduate 
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of Lincoln Senior High School; he obtained a Bachelor of 
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Science degree in Biology and Elementary Education from A.M. & 
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N. College (now, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff); he 
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participated in the Arkansas Band and Orchestra, and the famed 
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AM & N Collegians Choir; and he was a member of Tau Sigma 
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Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He earned his Master of Science degree and 
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administrative certificate A and B from Southern Illinois 
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University; and he attended Washington University, Wayne State 
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University, and Ball State University for additional 
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education; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He served in the United States Army and was 
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stationed in Europe for 19 months; he received chemical, 
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biological, and radiological training and taught C.B. warfare 
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courses while in the Army; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, He served as a sixth grade teacher at Franklin 
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Elementary School, District 189; he was chairman of the science 
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department and coached softball and basketball; in 1970 he was 
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appointed Science Supervisor for District 189, and became 
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Assistant Principal at Rock Junior High School; he was in 
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charge of the 7th grade annex for 3 years; he served as McHenry 
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Elementary School Principal for 15 years and received one of 17 
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renewable Urban Education Grants from the Illinois State Board 
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of Education; he retired after 38 years of dedicated service as 
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the Director of the Innovative Science Program; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was co-chairman of the East St. Louis United 
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Negro College Fund; he was a board member and chairman of the 
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personnel committee for the Madison, St. Clair, and Bond 
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Counties Big Brothers and Big Sisters  East St. Louis Mentor 
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Program; he was on the Board of Directors of the Emily Willis 
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Day Care Center; he was a member of Phi Delta Kappa National 
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Association of Elementary School Principals; he was a member of 
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the Illinois Principals Association; he was a member of the 
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Congress on Racial Equality; he was President of the University 
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of Arkansas, Pine Bluff Alumni Association (Illinois and 
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Missouri); he was Director of the Men's Choir; he was Assistant 
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Director of the Westbrooks-Green Community Choir and Chairman 
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of the Board of Trustees; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He, along with 7 other dedicated fraternity 
 


 






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members, were the founders of the Nu Chi Chapter; he was a life 
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member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and held several offices, 
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including serving as the 10th district representative; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his sisters, Remelle 
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Turner and Irene Oliver; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Frederick "Freddie" Birth is survived by his wife, 
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Carolyn; his daughters, Pamela, Paula, and Shontisa; his 
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grandson, Xavier; his brother-in-law, Henry (Ruby) Parker; and 
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his nephews, nieces, cousins, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity 
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brothers; therefore, be it

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

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Frederick "Freddie" Birth as a 
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symbol of our sincere sympathy.