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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of John
4Thomas Clark, Jr.; and
 
5    WHEREAS, John Clark, Jr. was born on May 18, 1921, in
6Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; his parents were John Thomas Clark,
7Sr. and Patricia Ferguson; he married Ruth Clark in 1949 and
8later separated; he married Margaret Williams in 1964; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Following the separation of his parents at the age
10of 4, John Clark, Jr. and his older sister, Marion, moved with
11their mother to Chicago; he later attended Forrestville
12Elementary School and graduated from John Farren Elementary
13School; after briefly attending Englewood High School, he
14graduated from Parker High School (now Paul Robeson High
15School) in December of 1938; after high school, he attended the
16University of Illinois for one year before finishing his
17baccalaureate degree at Lincoln University in Jefferson City,
18Missouri; while at Lincoln University, he was initiated into
19the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on April 1,
201945; he subsequently moved back to Chicago after graduating
21from Lincoln University and began working jobs that mostly
22focused on manufacturing; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, John Clark, Jr. manufactured aircraft engines at
2Buick Motors during the early years of World War II; and
 
3    WHEREAS, John Clark, Jr. began working for the State of
4Illinois in April of 1951; in January of 1974, he moved to the
5State of Illinois Department of Public Aid, where he remained
6until his retirement in February of 1995; he also worked for
7Sears Roebuck and Company; after his son, Eric, left for
8college, he and Margaret traveled the world, visiting Europe,
9Asia, and South America; and
 
10    WHEREAS, John Clark, Jr. was an active member of Alpha Phi
11Alpha Fraternity and of the Xi Lambda Chapter; he served as the
12Regional Secretary under Midwest Regional Vice President Bro.
13Thomas Pawley; he also served in various offices in Xi Lambda
14Chapter, including his last office as Associate Editor of the
15Sphinx, supported chapter events, and attended Alpha
16conventions; in 1983, he was raised to the level of 3rd Degree
17Master Mason in North Star Lodge #1 of the Princehall Grand
18Lodge; and
 
19    WHEREAS, John Clark, Jr. was an avid bridge player who
20played in many regional and national tournaments, winning many
21of them even late in his bridge playing career; he was also a
22long time member of the Midwest Bridge Unit; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, John Clark, Jr. was preceded in death by his wife
2of 47 years, Margaret; his parents; and his sister, Marion; and
 
3    WHEREAS, John Clark, Jr. is survived by his sons, Phillip,
4Dennis, John III, and Eric Clark, Sr.; his daughters-in-law,
5Evelyn Clark and Michelle Harris; his grandchildren, Devin,
6Aaron, Christine, Jordan, Dana, Eric, Jr., Caiyah, Tasia,
7Justice, Zyra, and Andrew Clark; and his many
8great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore,
9be it
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
12we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
13John Thomas Clark, Jr.; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of John Clark, Jr. as an expression of
16our sympathy.