SR0119 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0119 LRB099 08450 MST 28604 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of George Washington Collins, who passed away on July 31, 2014; and

WHEREAS, George Collins was born in Bennettsville, South Carolina on October 14, 1926 to Bishop W.C. and Elizabeth (nee McCall) Collins; he attended Laurinburg Normal and Industrial Institute, in Laurinburg, North Carolina; he served in the United States Army Air Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant; and

WHEREAS, Upon being discharged in 1947, George Collins began working as a reporter for The People's Voice; he later joined the Afro-American Newspapers in Baltimore, Maryland, where he covered such historical events as the March on Washington and the assassination of President Kennedy; his award-winning coverage included many events in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and he was a tenacious investigative reporter bringing justice to corrupt public officials; he garnered national recognition for his coverage of the funerals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968; he worked as an anchor and associate editor at WMAR-TV 2 News, where he established himself as the first African-American television journalist in Baltimore; during his 20-year, he was an executive producer, investigative reporter, political analyst, and editorial director; his programs looked at substantive issues in the black community; he spent last decade of his career as host of @Issue, a live, one-hour weekly program on Morgan State University Radio, WEAA-88.9 FM, that explored provocative issues having both a direct and indirect impact on the quality of life as seen through the Black Experience; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, George Collins was jointly cited by the Library of America, the National Committee for Excellence in Journalism, and the Smithsonian Institution as "one of the best American journalists of the 20th century"; and

WHEREAS, George Collins was a member of the New Shiloh Baptist Church for 41 years; and

WHEREAS, George Collins was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, George Collins is survived by his wife of over 65 years, Eloise Ross Collins; his 4 children, Barbara C. Rhodes (Warren), Ronald B. Collins (Sylvia), Vanessa C. Pyatt (James), and Valerie D. Collins; his 4 grandchildren, Mandisa A. Rhodes-Trower (Christopher), Zachary P. Collins, Vashti E. Pyatt, and Tabitha D. Pyatt; his great-grandchild, Khadijah A. Trower; his 4 brothers, David C. Collins, Benjamin F. Collins, Bishop Floyd D. Collins (Barbara), and Nathaniel N. Collins; his 2 sisters-in-law, Annie Collins and Leah Collins; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of George Washington Collins, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of George Collins as an expression of our deepest sympathy.