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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 Leonard
4E. Hawthorne of Alton, who passed away on December 21, 2016;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne was born in Doddsville,
7Mississippi to Jessie L. and Hugh H. Hawthorne on November 11,
81945; he grew up in East St. Louis and graduated from Lincoln
9High School; he served in the United States Army and earned his
10Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Business Education
11and his certification in education administration from
12Southern Illinois University Edwardsville; he married Birdia
13Ruth Woods in 1971 and they settled in Alton; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne began his 32-year career as an
15educator in Alton Community Unit School District 11; he taught
16business subjects at Alton High School and the J.B. Johnson
17Career Development Center; he was a teacher-coordinator for the
18Distributive Education work-study program, assistant principal
19at West Junior High School and Alton High School, principal at
20Lewis & Clark Elementary School, and Title I and Special
21Services Administrator; he retired in 2003; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne developed, tested, and taught a

 

 

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1financial literacy course to Alton High School students, where
2he stressed the importance of avoiding the common pitfalls
3students encounter upon graduating; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne was involved with several
5professional organizations, including the National and State
6Education Association, the National and State Business
7Education Association, the National Association of Secondary
8School Principals, and the Illinois Principals Association; he
9twice received the "Those Who Excel Meritorious Service Award"
10from the Illinois State Board of Education as Alton High School
11assistant principal and as district level administrator; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne was involved with 100 Black Men
13of Alton and 100 Black Men Youth 100 W.A.Y.S. Financial
14Literacy Project; he was also involved with the United Way of
15Southwest Illinois, the Elijah P. Lovejoy Memorial, and the
16Madison County Urban League Board and Guild, where he served as
17Board Chairman; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne was a lifelong member of Pilgrim
19Rest Missionary Baptist Church, serving for over 40 years as
20Trustee Board Secretary and Finance Committee Chairman; he was
21a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the NAACP; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne made a difference in the school

 

 

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1district and his community; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne was preceded in death by his
3wife, Birdia; his parents; his brother, John T. Hawthorne; and
4his sister, Molly Hawthorne (Patton) Robertson; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Leonard Hawthorne is survived by his daughter,
6Melia L. Hawthorne; his son, Antoine (Rebecca) Lawrence; his
7sister, Ruth H. Clark; his brothers, James (Ruth Ann)
8Hawthorne, and Hugh H. Hawthorne, Jr.; his mother-in-law, Lovie
9Woods; his sister-in-law, W. Earnestine Everage; his
10brother-in-law, Gary D. Woods; his godson, Dirk Johnson, MD;
11his special friend, Joan Riggs; and a host of nephews, nieces,
12cousins, and friends; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15mourn the passing of Leonard E. Hawthorne, and extend our
16sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
17and loved him; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Leonard Hawthorne as an expression
20of our deepest sympathy.