HR0971 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0971 LRB095 19306 KXB 45809 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Ethel Boswell Darden of Chicago on the occasion of her 108th birthday celebration; and

WHEREAS, She was born on February 17, 1900; she served as Assistant Principal at Howalton Day School, the first African-American private school in Chicago, from 1947 to 1986; her birthday celebration has become a Howalton Day School Reunion each year; and

WHEREAS, Some of her former students included the children of Judge Eugene Pincham, Judge Earl Strayhorn, Professor Timuel Black, Mayor Eugene Sawyer, and Congressman Ralph Metcalfe; and

WHEREAS, She is the oldest living member of Alpha Kappa Alpha and has life membership status; she is a founding member of Alpha Xi Omega, founded June 6, 1929 in Dallas, Texas; their first graduate chapter was the Class of 1921 ; and

WHEREAS, She is the oldest living alumni of Wiley College in Marshall, Texas; and

WHEREAS, A birthday celebration will be held on February 16, 2008 at her residence, Montgomery Place, on South Lake Shore Drive; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Ethel Boswell Darden on this historic occasion and wish her the best at her birthday celebration; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Ethel Boswell Darden as a symbol of our respect and esteem.