HR0087 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0087 LRB102 16104 LAW 21478 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Harold's Chicken, a successful Black-owned business, on the occasion of their 70th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Harold's Chicken is one of Chicago's oldest Black-owned restaurants; and

WHEREAS, Harold's Chicken was founded by entrepreneur Harold Pierce when he opened a small restaurant with his wife, Hilda, on 39th Street called H&H in 1950; and

WHEREAS, Harold's Chicken became one of the few examples of a thriving fast food chain that was owned by, and primarily served, the Black community; and

WHEREAS, Harold's Chicken is known for serving freshly fried chicken, a chain-wide policy initiated by Harold Pierce, and cooking their fried chicken in a mix of half beef tallow and half vegetable oil, which produces a taste similar to the traditional home-cooked fried chicken that was invented in the American South; and

WHEREAS, Harold's Chicken has expanded to 45 locations today, with 26 locations in Illinois alone; they have additional locations in Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, and Nevada, with plans to further expand to Charlotte, North Carolina, St. Louis, Missouri, Houston, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada; and

WHEREAS, Harold's Chicken is now overseen by CEO Kristen Pierce, Harold Pierce's daughter; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Harold's Chicken on their 70th anniversary and wish them continued success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Harold's Chicken CEO Kristen Pierce as an expression of our esteem and respect.