SR2579 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2579 LRB099 24248 MST 51980 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald Allen of Naperville, who passed away on December 2, 2016, at the age of 73; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Allen founded the A. Allen Insurance Agency in Chicago's Austin community after graduating from Chicago State University; he had previously worked for the United States Postal Service and as a business teacher at King High School in Chicago; he was one of the first African American insurance agents for the Allstate Insurance Co. in Chicago, and maintained an affiliation with them for 42 years, retiring in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Allen was a social activist in DuPage County; he spent his retirement active in the DuPage County Democratic Party and founded the Unity Partnership outreach group to foster trust and goodwill between police and county residents; he served as a precinct committeeman in Naperville Township and was an active member of the DuPage County NAACP; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Allen was an active member of the DuPage AME Church in Lisle and served on the DuPage Diversity steering committee; he served on the DuPage County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, the Chicago State University Alumni Board, and the National African American Insurance Association Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Allen hosted his own radio show, "The Financial Forum", that aired on WVON-AM; he enjoyed the game of Whist so much that in 2014 he wrote a book, "The Evolution of Bid Whist", which not only offered playing strategy but traced the history of the game to the Civil War; he was an avid Chicago Cubs fan; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Allen is survived by his wife, Carol; his children, Keith, Mark, and Vera; and his granddaughter, Jasmine; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ronald Allen, 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 Ronald Allen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.