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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Merritt L. Hicks Jr. of Chicago, who
4 pased away on April 29, 2010; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Merritt Hicks Jr. was born on June 24, 1922 in New
6 Orleans, Louisiana, to the union of Merritt L. Hicks Sr. and
7 Mabel Washington; Mr. Hicks met the love of his life at
8 Anderson High School in Austin, Texas; a few years later, they
9 reconnected at a barn yard dance, and on April 17, 1944,
10 Merritt and Bobbie Hicks were united in marriage; and
 
11     WHEREAS, For the next 66 years of marriage, Merritt and
12 Bobbie raised their family in Chicago; Mr. Hicks was also known
13 as Mr. Geechie Hicks; shortly after graduation from high
14 school, Mr. Hicks joined the United States Navy and played in
15 the band until he was given an Honorary Discharge; during World
16 War II, he returned to Austin, Texas after being drafted by the
17 U.S. Army Air Force Band; Mr. Hicks was honorably discharged
18 from the military in August of 1945; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Mr. Hicks later developed his own local band,
20 "Geechie Hicks and the Czars Band"; although his specialty was
21 classical jazz, his band traveled around the Chicagoland area
22 performing at various venues including; Italian and Jewish

 

 

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1 weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other special events playing polka,
2 blues, and jazz; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Mr. Hicks wore his Stetson hats and developed his
4 own 7 beat style; he played for Lionel Hampton, Louis
5 Armstrong, BB King, and many more; he tap danced for Cab
6 Calloway, Duke Ellington, and various other artists; and
 
7     WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; two
8 sisters, Dorothy Eustace and Helen Childress; and one
9 grandchild, Derrick; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Mr. Merritt Hicks Jr. is survived by his loving
11 and devoted wife of 66 years, Mrs. Bobbie Hicks; his children,
12 Merritt L. Hicks III (Veronica), Jacqueline, and Gwendolyn
13 Hicks; his sisters, Audrey Villavaso and Aramenta Johnson; his
14 six grandchildren, David, Darryl, Darren, Alain, Russell, and
15 Natoya; his eight great-grandchildren; his three
16 great-great-grandchildren; and his many nieces, nephews,
17 relatives, and friends; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
19 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
20 his family and friends, the passing of Merritt Hicks Jr.; and
21 be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to the family of Merritt Hicks Jr. as a symbol of our
3 sincere sympathy.